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I used to write agent-based simulations for science education, and one of the main libraries was AgentScript, which I believe is now SimTable [1]. They had deve

by SamBam 4y ago

I used to write agent-based simulations for science education, and one of the main libraries was AgentScript, which I believe is now SimTable [1]. They had developed their own sand table with an agent-based model running on top, and used it to create wildfire models to help plan and train firefighters. I think they also would do modeling of defense scenarios. It was pretty interesting stuff. 1. https://www.simtable.com https://www.simtable.com

noduerme 4y ago
I'm sorry, I haven't heard of sand tables before; the agent-based sim concept with lots of people standing around a projector is cool; but is there something better about it being projected on a lumpy surface?
- SamBam 4y ago
  It's a good question, and I honestly think that SimTable has struggled with that. From a playing perspective, or educational perspective, the sand is great. What happens with wildfires if we make the mountain this big? What happens to the water table if erosion cuts a valley through here? The immediate feedback that you can get by just shaping the landscape differently with your hands is really cool. From a wildfire training perspective, or other disaster management, it's different because you're dealing with an existing landscape. I've seen them start by projecting a map, then forming the sand with their hands to match the map, and then starting the simulation. But at that point is the 3D landscape needed? You could also project onto a flat table. I guess the reason is that it helps the fire chiefs or whoever really envision the landscape. "Ah, yes, this is Devil's Pass, I see how the wind is going to blow right through there and blow the fire that way. What if we cut a fire lane here? Ok, that slows it down." But it could also be a cool technology being used as a solution to a non-problem.
  - generalizations 4y ago
    > I guess the reason is that it helps the fire chiefs or whoever really envision the landscape. "Ah, yes, this is Devil's Pass, I see how the wind is going to blow right through there and blow the fire that way. What if we cut a fire lane here? Ok, that slows it down." Yeah, if you're familiar with topographical maps (the way any decent hiker or fire chief would be), you really don't need the physical 3d layout to envision the landscape.
  - noduerme 4y ago
    ah yeah, I was just thinking about that firefighter demo and couldn't understand how the topography was correlated with the surface. (It seems like it'd be super cool if you could scoop out lakes and stuff... I've never seen or played with something like that.) The tactile aspect of the sand is neat. I can see it as a good learning tool as you described for thinking about wind patterns and road cuts.
hanniabu 4y ago
This looks like it'd be great for D&D

by SamBam 4y ago

noduerme 4y ago

I'm sorry, I haven't heard of sand tables before; the agent-based sim concept with lots of people standing around a projector is cool; but is there something better about it being projected on a lumpy surface?

SamBam 4y ago
It's a good question, and I honestly think that SimTable has struggled with that. From a playing perspective, or educational perspective, the sand is great. What happens with wildfires if we make the mountain this big? What happens to the water table if erosion cuts a valley through here? The immediate feedback that you can get by just shaping the landscape differently with your hands is really cool. From a wildfire training perspective, or other disaster management, it's different because you're dealing with an existing landscape. I've seen them start by projecting a map, then forming the sand with their hands to match the map, and then starting the simulation. But at that point is the 3D landscape needed? You could also project onto a flat table. I guess the reason is that it helps the fire chiefs or whoever really envision the landscape. "Ah, yes, this is Devil's Pass, I see how the wind is going to blow right through there and blow the fire that way. What if we cut a fire lane here? Ok, that slows it down." But it could also be a cool technology being used as a solution to a non-problem.
- generalizations 4y ago
  > I guess the reason is that it helps the fire chiefs or whoever really envision the landscape. "Ah, yes, this is Devil's Pass, I see how the wind is going to blow right through there and blow the fire that way. What if we cut a fire lane here? Ok, that slows it down." Yeah, if you're familiar with topographical maps (the way any decent hiker or fire chief would be), you really don't need the physical 3d layout to envision the landscape.
- noduerme 4y ago
  ah yeah, I was just thinking about that firefighter demo and couldn't understand how the topography was correlated with the surface. (It seems like it'd be super cool if you could scoop out lakes and stuff... I've never seen or played with something like that.) The tactile aspect of the sand is neat. I can see it as a good learning tool as you described for thinking about wind patterns and road cuts.

hanniabu 4y ago

This looks like it'd be great for D&D