This document describes a serious game called the Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) Serious Game. The game was developed to increase water availability and promote sustainable water use in the city of Alexandroupolis, Greece. It engages authorities, stakeholders, students, and teachers to discuss urban water management solutions. The game allows players to take on roles like the municipality or water utility and make decisions around measures like non-conventional water resources and green infrastructure while facing challenges from climate reports. The goal is to collaboratively ensure sufficient water resources and prevent flooding in the fictional city.

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The Integrated Urban Water
Management (IUWM)
Serious Game
Nassia Kassela
Programme Officer, GWP-Med
SIM4NEXUS Workshop – March 16th 2018, Athens
www.waterforthecity.net

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PARTNERS:
COLLABORATORS:
DURATION: 2016 – 2018
BUDGET: 1.2 million USD (Coca-Cola Foundation Grants)
Project information
Water for the City is a multi-stakeholder pilot project which a two-fold aim:
 Increase water availability in the metropolitan area of the coastal city
of Alexandroupolis, NE Greece
 Promote sustainable water use in the urban environment by
 Engaging authorities & stakeholders
 Educating students & teachers
 Raising public awareness.
Alexandroupolis

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OUR VISION: A water secure world
OUR MISSION: to advance governance and management of water
resources for sustainable and equitable development
• Enough water for all
Social Equity, Economic Efficiency, Ecosystems
• Security from droughts, floods, landslides, disease
The negative aspects of water
• Improved quality of life for the most vulnerable
Especially women and children
• An integrated approach
Holistic, and multi-stakeholder processes; Integrated Water Resources Management

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4 project pillars
Multi-
stakeholder
Partnership
Innovative
Technical
Application
Awareness
Raising
Capacity
Building &
Stakeholder
Engagement
Education

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The game serves as a tool for capacity building workshops & engagement of
authorities & key stakeholders in Integrated Urban Water Management.
This role–playing game was developed in Greek and in English and it enables
key-stakeholders to get familiar with various water management solutions and
climate change adaptation measures through the use of non conventional
water resources and the implementation of urban green-blue infrastructure.
Capacity Building & Stakeholder Engagement
The IUWM Serious Game

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Why a Serious Game?
Source: How The Brain Learns (Dr. David A. Sousa) Source: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Serious games are those games that provide a meaningful message in a fictional
play space about a certain (perceived) realit.

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 Train key stakeholders on Integrated Urban Water Management
 Present contemporary water management solutions, technologies & practices,
with a focus on non-conventional water resources & green-blue infrastructure
 Give emphasis to strategic planning
Players:
 Deepen their understanding of the
 Necessity for prevention & adaptation measures
 Uncertainties that the future entails in terms of climate change impacts
 Dilemmas in establishing (water) resilient cities
 Different roles in urban water management
 Imperative need for dialogue & collaboration
 Strengthen their
 Negotiation & collaboration skills
In the context of a “real” city
The goal OF the game

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Urban Planning: Integrated
Water Resources
Management
Goals: quality
of life and
environmental
conservation
Institutional:
legislation and
management
Water supply Sanitation
Urban
drainage &
flood
management
The goal OF the game
Adapted from Tucci, 2001

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Urban Planning: Integrated
Water Resources
Management
Goals: quality
of life and
environmental
conservation
Institutional:
legislation and
management
Water supply Sanitation
Urban
drainage &
flood
management
The goal OF the game

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1. Ensure sufficient water resources for all water users
(Potable) water supply – Economic activity – Green infrastructure
2. Make sure Alexandroupolis does not flood
3. Ensure the requirements of the civil society are met
4. Look after a personal interest
The goal IN the game
Safeguard the wellbeing of the city…
Simple..?
… in an uncertain reality

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Create a “real” & “fictional” city
Play Areas
Water Pillars
& Dam
Weather
Reports
Civil Society
Requests
Available
measures &
actions
& Responses

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 Four players representing important stakeholders of the city
 Municipality, Regional authority, Water utility, Private sector
 Available measures & actions
 Climate change adaptation measures
 Non conventional water resources
 Urban green-blue infrastructure
 Strategic thinking
 Climate reports & seasonal rounds of increasing difficulty
 Common goals & personal interest
 Cash flow
 Trained game master (facilitator)
 Communication & collaboration
 Common goals – the wellbeing of the city above all
 Limitations applicable to everyone
 Civil society demands & responses
The Serious Game “manual”

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Let’s supply an introduction… to Play & Learn!
Introductory
presentations
Game play

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What is the result?
Insufficient
water supply
Minor
problems
Priority given to
certain areas
Floods
in the city
The “game” is an original and
intelligent way to bring various
stakeholders at the same table
and have them discuss the
needs of the city.

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More information:
GWP-Med Secretariat
www.gwpmed.org
nassia@gwpmed.org
secretariat@gwpmed.org
Τ: +30 210 3247267
GWPMed
Thank you!
www.waterforthecity.net