Motivation and Engagement in Disaster Mapping in Europe (MEDiME)

The 2021 European floods, which claimed the lives of 243 people, served as a significant indicator of the far-reaching impact of climate change. These floods caused catastrophic damage to some of the most technologically advanced countries in the region. They also highlighted a notable fact: despite the extensive advancement of disaster maps and preparedness measures throughout Europe, the lack of individual preventive behaviour had a significant impact. In response to this issue, the MSCA-funded MEDiME project aims to mitigate the disadvantages posed by this lack. It seeks to achieve this by developing a crucial theoretical framework to motivate and engage residents in disaster training and preparedness. Additionally, the project focuses on continuously improving the effectiveness of such training.

Objective

"We should not be seeing this number of people dying in 2021 from floods. It just should not be happening." Hydrologist H. Cloke’s words echoed the widespread shock following the death of 243 people in some of the wealthiest and most technologically advanced countries in the world during the European 2021 floods. Extreme weather events such as floods and heat waves are expected to increase in frequency and intensity in the future (IPCC). As communities grow more exposed to hazard risks, in addition to state preparedness and urban resilience, it is urgent to address public involvement in disaster preparedness (DP) measures to promote individual preventive behaviour (SFDRR 2015-2030). Despite EU advances in Disaster Maps (DM) tools and disaster management procedures of community professionalisation, DM are used mostly by expert stakeholders but are seldom user-friendly for citizens, and current DP initiatives suffer from limited public motivation and engagement. People do not exist in a vacuum, and social and cultural dynamics play a crucial role in defining risk and motivation to engage in DP. Thus, DP strategies should include a systematic assessment of the impact of socio-cultural and spatial factors on people’s motivation and engagement in DP to inform better disaster training. The Motivation and Engagement in Disaster Mapping in Europe (MEDiME) project proposes a theoretical framework of motivation and engagement and a new disaster training based on interactive HM to investigate motivation and engagement in DP and the use of DM for foreign residents. An original socio-cultural and spatial model to understand people’s motivation to participate in DP initiatives based on the Japanese DP research and measures will be implemented, for Japan has always been at the forefront of DP for high levels of community engagement and mainstreamed DM. Project results will increase the impact of EU DP strategies, and inform useful DM uses for the broader public."

For more details, see: Motivation and Engagement in Disaster Mapping in Europe | MEDiME | Projekt | Fact Sheet | HORIZON | CORDIS | European Commission

Activities

MEDiME activities bring together research, innovation, and collaboration to better understand and enhance engagement in disaster preparedness and hazard mapping literacy. We combine social science insights with digital tools and serious games to explore how people contribute to, learn from, and are motivated by mapping initiatives in preparation for natural hazards and evacuation scenarios. 

MEDiME work, then, spans a variety of areas — from research studies and workshops to data analysis, educational outreach, and partnership events. Each activity is designed to strengthen connections between communities, researchers, and decision-makers, fostering a more resilient and informed approach to disaster management across Europe and beyond. 

Serious Game Workshop: Learning About Risks Through Play

As part of the MEDiME (Motivation and Engagement in Disaster Mapping in Europe) project, we hosted our first Serious Game workshop with two fifth-year classes from ISS G. Minutoli in Messina.

The session began with a short introduction to the concepts of risk and hazard, followed by an interactive role-playing game designed to explore how communities respond to local disasters such as floods and landslides. Over ninety minutes, students worked in teams to develop strategies, make collective decisions, and navigate their way to safety — all while learning about the real challenges their region might face.

The game featured inclusive characters representing diverse abilities and mobility challenges, encouraging empathy and awareness of accessibility in disaster response. The students’ energy, creativity, and collaboration made the workshop a great success, and their valuable feedback is helping us refine the game for future sessions.

Guest Lecture at the University of Messina

As part of the MEDiME (Motivation and Engagement in Disaster Mapping in Europe) project, we had the pleasure of delivering a guest lecture at the University of Messina for first- and third-year students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Information Science: Journalism and Social Media with the title “Under construction: cultures of disaster with stories, maps and serious games between Japan and Europe”. 

The session explored key themes in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and resilience, focusing on how communication tools — from hazard maps to serious games — can raise awareness and inspire collective action. Together with the students, we reflected on what it means to live in a city like Messina, shaped by its landscape, urban development, and exposure to risks such as earthquakes, heavy rainfall, wildfires, and landslides. 

We also shared insights from MEDiME’s research on motivation and engagement in disaster mapping across Europe, drawing comparisons with similar communication strategies in Japan.

Presentation at the IDRiM 2025 Conference, Samos

As part of the MEDiME (Motivation and Engagement in Disaster Mapping in Europe) project, we participated in the IDRiM 2025 Conference on the beautiful island of Samos, Greece — a vibrant gathering of researchers, practitioners, and innovators in Disaster Risk Management (DRM).

During the event, we presented the poster “Cultures of Risk: Exploring Resident Water-related Disaster Preparedness in Multi-Country Contexts”, focusing on the capabilities and challenges of elderly residents in rural Japan, based on prior research in Wakayama with Prof. Terumoto (link to publication).

We also showcased the prototype of our serious game developed within the MEDiME project, receiving valuable feedback and enthusiastic interest from the international DRR community.

The conference was filled with inspiring discussions, spontaneous collaborations, and new ideas, all reinforcing the importance of cross-cultural approaches to risk and resilience. It was a joy to be part of such a passionate and forward-looking community — and we’re already looking forward to what’s next!

Presentation at the 4th EAJS Conference, Sendai

As part of the MEDiME (Motivation and Engagement in Disaster Mapping in Europe) project, we took part in the 4th European Association for Japanese Studies (EAJS) Conference, held at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan — a city that stands as a symbol of resilience and recovery. 

The conference offered a rich, interdisciplinary program spanning literature, history, culture, and resilience studies, creating a vibrant space for dialogue and exchange among scholars from around the world. 

During the presentation “History, Culture, and Risk: Insights into Disaster Preparedness from Japan and Italy” we presented insights on the cultural and social dimensions of resilience in Italy and Japan, highlighting how these perspectives can strengthen risk communication and community preparedness. 

Collaborations

MEDiME thrives on international collaboration. We are proud to work with outstanding institutions and researchers from around the world who share our passion for advancing disaster mapping, motivation, and engagement research. 

So far, we are fortunate to have established collaborations with: 

• Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina (Italy)
• JST-Mirai project (Japan)
• Kyushu University, Fukuoka (Japan)
• SHOCKTRACKER project, Stockholm (Sweden) 
• Tohoku University, Sendai (Japan)

We are always open to new partnerships that can help expand the reach and impact of our work. 

If your institution is interested in collaborating with the MEDiME project, please contact our Principal Investigator, Dr Irene Petraroli, at i.petraroli@utwente.nl. 

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Contact persons

I. Petraroli PhD

Project leader

dr. F. Carvalho de Souza

Project officer

Global impact

Disaster resilience

Our exposure and vulnerability to extreme events - including both natural and human-induced hazards - continue to increase. Worldwide the impact of disasters is rapidly growing. At ITC, experts work to integrate hazard assessment and disaster risk management into strategic planning and sustainable development.

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