This project advances the field of flood risk management by using technology to bridge the gap between science and local community decision-making. Currently, flood risk management meetings use a computer-assisted decision support system (DSS) to illustrate various flood scenarios and facilitate collaborative discussions among participants. The DSS is a set of sophisticated models structured by geographic information systems (GIS) technicians.

     This study proposed a "stakeholder-built" DSS. Stakeholders are defined here as those directly at risk of flooding. This method utilized improved user interface capabilities while retaining the technical rigor and robustness of a Nationally-recognized GIS software package. There are times when a simple model may serve as an introduction to GIS technology. There are also situations where the cost of the sophisticated models may place them out of reach. The stakeholder-built DSS was proposed as a compliment to the sophisticated models by providing greater access to a DSS for end-users. 

     The stakeholder-built DSS, in which stakeholders construct their own models, uses realistic interactive visualization as a learning tool. Realistic visualization represents information using virtual reality. The intent is to trigger awareness of risk through emotional response to images. Stakeholders use interactive visualization when constructing the model.  Awareness of the flood scenario is enhanced by the constant attention required of the model-builder as they make connections between hand-eye coordinated motions and the cognitive information they are modeling. Knowledge accumulates as multiple steps are completed. 

     The effectiveness of the stakeholder-built DSS was tested during community flood risk management meetings in Federal Emergency Management Agency Region III, the mid-Atlantic area. A DSS based on a Nationally-recognized GIS software package was also tested to serve as a comparison. Data were collected in pre- and post-surveys and follow-up interviews.  

The stakeholder-built and national GIS software DSS both performed equally well in communicating knowledge of flood risk and risk-reduction options, resulting in significant learning outcomes. To maximize the intent by stakeholders to take actions to reduce risk, meetings using the stakeholder-built DSS in high-quality meeting facilities performed best. In addition, the stakeholder-built model was less expensive and found to be more user-friendly for stakeholders.