Tidal sampling at the North Sea

Methods & Techniques


Methods


In work package 4, visual information formats (based on Augmented-Reality applications) on the state and development of carbon reservoirs in the North Sea and Baltic Sea will be developed in cooperation with representatives from politics, administration, associations and organizations. The information needs of stakeholders will be investigated, and the legal and institutional framework conditions of decision-making processes will be analyzed. The visualized information formats will help decision makers to better grasp the impact of certain developments and decisions based on scientific analyses.

In the process of stakeholder identification and analysis as well as the development and evaluation of the information formats, the Living Lab approach is used. This is a "laboratory" for testing social and technological innovations under conditions as realistic as possible - i.e. in the actual working environment of the target group.

The approach allows systematic interaction between science and society and enables the actors involved to jointly develop tailored solutions. This requires not only close involvement of societal actors from the start, but also the integration of scientific expertise.

Typically, three phases are distinguished:

Phase 1: Exploring

Identification and analysis of the relevant stakeholders, analysis of the legal and institutional framework as well as the decision-making processes in which the key actors act (Under which framework are which decisions made by whom?).

Here, methods such as System Dynamics Modeling as well as interviews and workshops with key stakeholders are applied.

"What-if" scenarios are developed: How do decisions change if, for example, decision makers receive additional information on the impact of nutrient inputs from rivers on ocean carbon storage? How do decisions change when information is provided in visual form through digital Augmented-Reality (AR) applications?

Phase 2: Experimenting

Experimentation with a highly innovative AR application. AR offers the possibility of visualizing complex relationships and large amounts of data very clearly. Options for potential AR applications are identified and can range from simple displays on tablets to 3D glasses.

AR applications are used to visualize "what-if" scenarios and show the impact of specific developments and decisions. For example: How does changing fertilizer management in agriculture affect nutrient concentrations in the ocean and ultimately marine carbon storage?

AR applications are then tested together with stakeholders and, based on their feedback, are improved gradually.

Phase 3: Evaluating

Comprehensive evaluation of the AR prototype and the entire stakeholder process.

On the one hand, the handling of and experiences with the developed AR prototype will be evaluated by means of user feedback, which is determined by questionnaires and workshops.

The evaluation also relates to the entire stakeholder process and takes place alongside the process. This involves questions about sufficient transparency, communication and completeness: is everyone informed in time and sufficiently, are all relevant stakeholders involved?

Living Lab Approach in work package 4