CASE
Sustainable Frontline Game
KEMs
INVOLVED
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Royal Netherlands Army – Logistics Knowledge Centre.
THEME
Safety
Design research into sustainability awareness and logistical independence within the Royal Netherlands Army
There is a clear need to integrate sustainability into military operations, but not all stakeholders recognize its importance. This project offers the opportunity to let military personnel experience in an interactive workshop how alternative choices in the structure of military missions contribute to both operational readiness and logistic independence.
The social challenge
The problem lies in the ambition to promote sustainability, long-term deployability of equipment and logistic independence within military operations, without sacrificing operational effectiveness or the safety of those involved. Although there is increasing recognition for sustainability, some military personnel still see it as a challenge. This intervention increases awareness by allowing military personnel to experience in an interactive workshop how alternative choices in the structure of military missions contribute to both operational readiness and logistic independence.
The KEMs
The approach is iterative and based on a design research approach for the development of serious gaming. This has led to a game in which participants take responsibility for energy supply, water supply, logistics and waste flows, and collaborate on a joint scenario to achieve sustainability goals. They make choices, such as converting conventional energy generation with diesel generators to solar or wind energy, supported by batteries, or creating their own water supply for flushing toilets with filtered rainwater. Through a live dashboard, players see the impact of their choices on the operational situation (KPIs), where the choices of other participants also influence their own situation, leading to dialogue during the game.
The result
The project has resulted in a hybrid game that challenges military teams to make decisions together to promote sustainability. The game promotes cooperation by making interdependencies visible and stimulates behavioral change by having participants reflect on their gaming experience. In addition, a design has been developed to translate what has been learned into daily practice. The game is designed in such a way that it can function both as a standalone intervention and as part of military curricula.
The game offers a safe, motivating learning environment in which participants discover how to integrate sustainability into their tasks through playing. Debriefings contribute to greater awareness and offer concrete tools for behavioral change, both within and outside the military context.
