The Simtables for Disaster Engagement project provides the Hunter and Central Coast region with two state-of-the-art simulation tools to help communities understand and prepare for natural disasters.
The Simtables are available for use in community engagement activities within the region. The Hunter JO can provide support to plan, facilitate, or deliver these activities as required. If you are interested, use the form below to submit an enquiry.
What are Simtables?
The Simtable is a digital sand table that displays high quality models of natural hazards such as bushfires and floods over maps of the local area. The device projects the maps and models onto a tabletop sand tray, and the sand is shaped to match the topography of the landscape.
In particular, the Simtable includes a bushfire spread model, that can demonstrate how a fire could start and spread across the landscape based on environmental and weather conditions including wind, vegetation type, fuel loads and topography. This allows the participants to understand how a fire might occur in their local area, how it may impact the community, and how best to prepare and respond.
For other hazard types, such as floods and heatwaves, the Simtable displays maps and models to demonstrate how the local area may be impacted.
Check out our Simtables for Disaster Engagement video
How is the Simtable used?
The Simtables are used in community engagement workshops across the Hunter and Central Coast. The Simtable is completely portable and can be easily transported and set-up in a venue within a community.
Because the Simtables can display maps, models, and data for any location, it helps participants develop a thorough understanding of how a hazard may occur in their local area. By using the Simtable to understand their local risks, the participants can then consider how to plan, prepare, and respond to ensure their safety during a natural hazard event.
The Simtable is available for free loan to Hunter JO Member Councils, emergency services or other relevant organisations. Hunter JO staff can provide training, assistance and resources as required to facilitate the workshops.
Enquire about the Simtable
To find out more information, or to organise a loan, workshop, or training session, please fill out the form below:
The Simtables program has been supported by both the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund (BCRRF), and the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF), which are jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
