Humber in a Box

Type: Virtual Reality

Theme: Flooding

Creator: Chris Skinner and University of Hull Computer Science students

Humber in a Box was a virtual reality activity that merged a hydraulic model used to understand flood risks with the Unity-3D gaming engine. It placed users into a virtual museum room, with a 3D model of the Humber Estuary, UK, in a box in the middle of the room. The model simulates the water levels in the estuary as the tides go in and out.

With a press of a button, they can raise the water level by 1m at a time and watch the water levels instantly update as the extra water rushes into the estuary. Raise the water level enough and the high tides will overtop the flood defences and spill onto the land and into towns and cities.

The activity was used to start conversations about the complex issues of flood risk and sea level rise, particularly focussing on a misconception that the Humber area will be underwater by 2100.