A case study and method development research of online simulation gaming to enhance youth care knowlegde exchange. Youth care professionals affirm that the application used has enough relevance as an additional tool for knowledge construction about complex cases. They state that the usability of the application is suitable, however some remarks are given to adapt the virtual environment to the special needs of youth care knowledge exchange. The method of online simulation gaming appears to be useful to improve network competences and to explore the hidden professional capacities of the participant as to the construction of situational cognition, discourse participation and the accountability of intervention choices.
When it comes to hard to solve problems, the significance of situational knowledge construction and network coordination must not be underrated. Professional deliberation is directed toward understanding, acting and analysis. We need smart and flexible ways to direct systems information from practice to network reflection, and to guide results from network consultation to practice. This article presents a case study proposal, as follow-up to a recent dissertation about online simulation gaming for youth care network exchange (Van Haaster, 2014).
The authors present the design of the shipping simulation SEL and its integration in the MSP Challenge Simulation Platform. This platform is designed to give policymakers and planners insight into the complexity of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and can be used for interactive planning support. It uses advanced game technology to link real geo- and marine data with simulations for ecology, energy and shipping. The shipping sector is an important economic sector with influential stakeholders. SEL calculates the (future) impact of MSP decisions on shipping routes. This is dynamically shown in key performance indicators (e.g. route efficiencies) and visualised in heat maps of ship traffic. SEL uses a heuristic-based graph-searching algorithm to find paths from one port to another during each simulated month. The performance of SEL was tested for three sea basins: the firth of Clyde, Scotland (smallest), North Sea (with limited data) and Baltic Sea regions (largest, with most complete data). The behaviour of the model is stable and valid. SEL takes between 4 and 17 seconds to generate the desired monthly output. Experiences in 20 sessions with 302 planners, stakeholders and students indicate that SEL is a valuable addition to MSP Challenge, and thereby to MSP.
Project aimsNorthSEE aims to achieve greater coherence in Maritime Spatial Planning (processes; MSP) and in Maritime Spatial Plans (outcomes/solutions), capturing synergies and preventing incompatibilities in the North Sea Region (NSR). The project seeks to create better conditions for sustainable development of the area in the fields of shipping, energy and environmental protection. NorthSEE is possible thanks to the financial support from the Interreg North Sea Region programme of the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).Project tasks and resultsTo suggest a multi-level coordination framework capable of supporting ongoing coordination in MSP across the NSR in the long term. To develop an information and planning platform for MSP, enabling planners and stakeholders to share evidence for MSP and test different planning options in the form of scenarios based on real data. The MSP Challenge computer-supported simulation game will became this platform. To increase the capacity of stakeholders in key transnational sectors to actively contribute to MSP To align approaches for taking into account wider environmental issues in MSP To facilitate greater transnational coherence in MSP with respect to offshore energy infrastructure To achieve greater transnational coherence in using MSP to support environmental protection objectives. To facilitate greater transnational coherence in MSP with respect to shipping routes.Our roleThe Academy for Digital Entertainment (ADE) of Breda University of Applied Sciences is a full partner in this project. ADE is responsible for designing and developing the MSP Challenge simulation game concerning the NSR, as well as facilitating its application, all with the aim of developing insights befitting the project aims and thus Maritime Spatial Planning in the North Sea Region (see task 2). We therefore work closely with all NorthSEE partners to define the right requirements and ensure that the simulation game fulfills them. Multiple MSP Challenge sessions are planned to help develop insightful future scenarios and useful planning solutions for the NSR. More information about MSP Challenge is available on NorthSEE (https://northsearegion.eu/northsee) and on its own website (https://www.mspchallenge.info/).
Power Quality, ofwel de kwaliteit van spanning en stroom, is momenteel een veelbesproken onderwerp. Door de sterke toename van niet-lineaire en energiebesparende belastingen (denk bijv. aan spaar- en ledverlichting, computervoedingen, frequentieregelaars, solaromvormers, etc.) verslechtert de kwaliteit van de netspanning terwijl diezelfde apparatuur juist gevoeliger worden voor verstoringen. Dit heeft nadelige economische en technische gevolgen voor de levensduur, efficiëntie, betrouwbaarheid en veiligheid van zowel de energie infrastructuur als de aangesloten apparatuur. Het belang van Power Quality blijkt ook uit het recent aantal publicaties en conferenties op dit vakgebied. Desondanks is de technische en wetenschappelijke analyse van Power Quality problemen voornamelijk fenomenologisch van aard. Problemen worden doorgaans beschreven aan de hand van metingen. Oplossingen worden meestal gezocht in het ad hoc plaatsen van commerciële power conditioners die de spanning en stroom beogen te verbeteren. De Power Quality problemen waar MKB-er Kanters al jaren mee worstelt zijn typerend voor de vele Power Quality problemen waar MKB-er HyTEPS, marktleider in Power Quality en Energy Efficiency, dagelijks mee te maken heeft. De installaties kunnen worden doorgemeten, maar het blijft lastig om de veroorzaker(s) van het Power Quality probleem met zekerheid vast te stellen. Het is meestal niet toegestaan om ‘verdachte’ apparaten af te schakelen in dit proces. De optimale plaatsing van de power conditioner(s) blijft daarmee een open vraag. Derhalve ontstaat de dringende behoefte aan computersimulaties om de oorzaak van verstoring te analyseren en de mogelijke oplossingen te valideren. PQsim onderzoekt of middels modellering en simulatie de bron van Power Quality problemen kan worden gealloceerd zodat er efficiënt oplossingen kunnen worden ontwikkeld en toegepast. De kennisassimilatie tussen HyTEPS, Kanters, RUG en de HAN beoogt een solide basis te vormen voor een unieke systematische en regeltechnische benadering van Power Quality problemen. De verworven inzichten dienen voorts als input voor toekomstige SiA-RAAK/TKI projecten.
Induced seismicity problems in the Groningen area caused by gas extraction have been one of the major challenges for the engineering and construction companies in the region and the Netherlands, not only because earthquake phenomena are new to the Dutch engineering community but also because the problem is very much complicated due to its social extents. The companies working in the structural engineering field in the region in different disciplines were forced to adapt very quickly to the earthquake related problems. It was a real size and investment problem for the SMEs, several of which benefited from this rush, however, only under certain conditions can this new skill set be sustainable. The SafeGo project aims mostly to help to facilitate sustainable development and build confidence for the SMEs in the field of earthquake engineering, rather than producing new scientific knowledge for them. SMEs are positioned in the seismic strengthening process either for collection of data or for providing and applying strengthening solutions. The proposed project aims to answer the question on how the “data-collection SMEs” can translate their data into more valuable assets to be used in the earthquake problem because the collection and the use of field data are vital. Furthermore, the question is also how the “strengthening SMEs” can verify and demonstrate their systems on a seismic shake table, because strengthening requires proven methodologies. The project goal is to combine these two central questions into findings on how the experimental and field data can efficiently be translated into suitable procedures, products and computer simulations for seismic assessment and strengthening of buildings, allowing SMEs to provide novel, integrated and accurate solutions not only in the region but also in international markets.
