Simulation Game on Transportation and Urban Growth

Principal Investigator(s):

Gary Barnes, Former U of M Researcher, Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Project summary:

The project if the first step in developing a computer simulation game of transportation and regional growth issues that can be used to educate policy makers and the public about the complexity of these problems and about the benefits and tradeoffs involved in different policy options. There are several possible audiences, different game forms which require different types of development and ongoing investment, and a huge number of issues that could potentially be interesting and relevant to include in the game. Thus it is critical that the first step of the development process be a thorough analysis of the available options and the costs and benefits of each. This information can then be used to determine how to develop the game in the way that best meets the educational objectives of the transportation and regional growth project in a cost-effective way. The objective of this project is to perform this analysis of the potential benefits and of the technological and financial feasibility of the different possible games that might be developed. No game will actually be developed as part of this project.

Project details:

  • Project number: 1998011
  • Start date: 07/1998
  • Project status: Completed
  • Research area: Planning and Economy
  • Topics: Economics, Planning