The potential use of location-based mobile game application toward disaster education for regional disaster prevention

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential use of location-based mobile game application toward disaster education for regional disaster prevention. The application "Bosai-Go!2.0" was designed to motivate users to explore and understand hazard risks in their communities by introducing gamification. Players are provided with various regional hazard maps through their mobile application, allowing them to score points on visits to specific sites, such as hazardous spots and evacuation shelters. Based on a field experiment and questionnaire survey of children and their parents living in Kosa-machi, Kumamoto Prefecture, it was suggested that the gameplay could foster children's ability to learn proactively and experientially about disaster prevention in their community. We also discussed the challenges and opportunities for implementing location-based game applications in disaster education.