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Designing RoutScape: Geospatial Prototyping with XR for Flood Evacuation Planning

Johndayll Lewis Arizala, Joshua Permito, Steven Errol Escopete, John Kovie Niño, Jordan Aiko Deja

TL;DR

This paper addresses fragmented communication in flood evacuation planning by introducing RoutScape, an XR tool designed for synchronous, collaborative geospatial planning grounded in real-world DRRM contexts. Through two iterative prototyping phases (a single-user PoC and a multi-user RoutScape prototype) developed with DRRM officers and geospatial experts, the authors identify essential features for visualization, gesture-based interaction, and spatial orientation in immersive environments. The study highlights the importance of integrating contextual data like hazard zones and flood depth, while also noting barriers such as the cost of head-mounted displays that could limit deployment. Overall, RoutScape demonstrates the potential of narrative-driven XR to foster shared understanding and coordinated disaster preparedness, with future work focusing on detailed feature evaluations and broader stakeholder feedback for practical deployment.

Abstract

Flood response planning in local communities is often hindered by fragmented communication across Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) councils. In this work, we explore how extended reality (XR) can support more effective planning through narrative-driven design. We present Routscape, an XR prototype for visualizing flood scenarios and evacuation routes, developed through iterative prototyping and user-centered design with DRRM officers. By grounding the system in real-world experiences and localized narratives, we highlight how XR can aid in fostering shared understanding and spatial sensemaking in disaster preparedness efforts.

Designing RoutScape: Geospatial Prototyping with XR for Flood Evacuation Planning

TL;DR

This paper addresses fragmented communication in flood evacuation planning by introducing RoutScape, an XR tool designed for synchronous, collaborative geospatial planning grounded in real-world DRRM contexts. Through two iterative prototyping phases (a single-user PoC and a multi-user RoutScape prototype) developed with DRRM officers and geospatial experts, the authors identify essential features for visualization, gesture-based interaction, and spatial orientation in immersive environments. The study highlights the importance of integrating contextual data like hazard zones and flood depth, while also noting barriers such as the cost of head-mounted displays that could limit deployment. Overall, RoutScape demonstrates the potential of narrative-driven XR to foster shared understanding and coordinated disaster preparedness, with future work focusing on detailed feature evaluations and broader stakeholder feedback for practical deployment.

Abstract

Flood response planning in local communities is often hindered by fragmented communication across Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) councils. In this work, we explore how extended reality (XR) can support more effective planning through narrative-driven design. We present Routscape, an XR prototype for visualizing flood scenarios and evacuation routes, developed through iterative prototyping and user-centered design with DRRM officers. By grounding the system in real-world experiences and localized narratives, we highlight how XR can aid in fostering shared understanding and spatial sensemaking in disaster preparedness efforts.
Paper Structure (6 sections, 3 figures)

This paper contains 6 sections, 3 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction and Background
  2. Iterative Prototyping of RoutScape
  3. RoutScape Proof-of-Concept
  4. RoutScape Prototype
  5. Insights Learned and Discussion
  6. Conclusion and Future Work

Figures (3)

  • Figure 1: Overview of the XR testing setup showing camera placements and user play area.
  • Figure 2: Features: Navigating the Map (top-left), Plotting Pins (top-right), Drawing Routes (bottom-left), Flood Visualization (bottom-right).
  • Figure 3: Features: Panning (top-left), Zooming (top-right), Rotating (middle-left), Plotting (middle-right), Routing (bottom-left), Flood Visualization (bottom-right).