A severe storm threatens the fictive city Veilburgh
In April 2025, we staged a storm in the fictional city of Veilburgh as an introduction to a 2-day policy workshop focusing on Veilburgh's long-term resilience and policies.
Participants first got to see a background film in a room below the lab to get acquainted with the city and the complex problems that exist there.
This fictional setting was chosen to provide a neutral and relatable context for all participants, who came from diverse national and regional backgrounds. Upon leaving the room, participants were informed that the simulation had officially begun. They proceeded to Veilburgh’s Emergency Coordination Centre for a briefing on an impending storm.
At the Emergency Coordination Centre, participants were welcomed by the fictional Incident Commander Jack. Jack (a role performed by an in-house actor) provided a brief tour of the facility and then delivered a short briefing on a Category 4 storm expected to impact Veilburgh within four hours.
As conditions were still safe, Jack led the participants on a reconnaissance mission through several key areas of the city. These locations were recreated in the simulation room using immersive technologies, including film, sound, lighting, props, and live acting.
The simulation then highlighted the societal impacts of the storm by visualising three distinct city areas, each depicted in the background film:
Photo: Harbourfront
Photo: Dockside
Photo: Southbank
To safeguard participant well-being, the simulation deliberately avoided depictions of fatalities, injuries, or other distressing content. Its purpose was to foster engagement and immersion, laying the groundwork for the policy design phase.
After visiting the three city areas, participants returned to the Emergency Coordination Centre. Jack delivered a comprehensive briefing, followed by an address from Mayor Katarina Becker, who tasked participants with developing long-term resilience policies for Veilburgh.
The simulation dramatised the unfolding extreme weather event and introduced policy-relevant challenges for participants to address in the subsequent workshop. Key thematic areas included:
- Climate adaptation measures
- Migration
- Economic and political conditions
- Social cohesion and trust
- Housing policy
These themes were included in descriptions of Veilburgh’s different city areas in the background presentation as well as selected video footage.
The lab activity was part of the Horizon Europe project FUTURESILIENCE and more information can be found on the project page.