On May 21, 2025, the Smart and Connected Communities (SCC) Project team convened a successful community meeting at the Jonas Center on the Indian Valley Campus of the College of Marin. The event brought together around 30 participants—including local government officials, residents, and university researchers—for an afternoon of interactive dialogue and collaboration focused on wildfire preparedness and resilience-building.
The workshop emphasized the importance of community-driven insights in shaping tools and strategies for risk reduction. Discussions centered on the use of serious games, digital simulations, and networked decision-making tools to help communities respond to wildfire threats more effectively.
Project Updates and Interactive Exploration
Participants received updates on core project components, including:
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Organizational Network Research
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Digital Twin Development
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Serious Games and Simulations
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Long-Term, Large-Scale Adaptation Planning
The centerpiece of the meeting was a rotating breakout station format that encouraged hands-on exploration and open dialogue. Each station allowed attendees to test and provide feedback on different components of the project:
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Station 1: Network & Models – Showcased dynamic traffic and communication simulations during emergency scenarios.
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Station 2: Mini-Games – Offered interactive digital experiences to explore decision-making under wildfire threat.
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Station 3: Board Game – Enabled participants to engage in a collaborative physical game modeling strategic wildfire response.
This interactive approach allowed attendees to actively experience the tools being developed, share feedback in real time, and shape the design and direction of the SCC Project’s final products.
Collaboration in Action
Group discussions and open feedback sessions were especially productive, generating actionable insights that have already informed refinements to our game mechanics and communication models. A summary of the meeting outcomes was shared with participants after the event, reflecting our commitment to transparency and continued engagement.
We are deeply grateful to all community members who took part in the meeting, and to the College of Marin for its generous support in hosting the event.
What’s Next
The SCC Project will continue to work closely with local leaders and residents to refine tools that reflect community priorities and lived experience. Sustained collaboration is critical to ensuring the success of our serious games and simulation platforms—and to advancing wildfire resilience at scale.
