As climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe, new approaches are needed to strengthen how communities and governments work together in planning for resilience. This research project investigates how immersive technologies and AI-supported tools can enhance community engagement in policy development, particularly in the context of crisis resilience.

Funded by the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre Incubator Grant, the project is a comparative study between Vietnam and Australia. It investigates how emerging digital tools such as virtual and augmented reality and generative AI models can support collaboration between government agencies, scientists, community organisations, and residents in responding to flood risk and long-term resilience planning.

The project team have been working with Bachelor of Design (Interaction Design) students in the initial research and project development phases. As part of an Independent Study, students investigated crisis policy frameworks, community engagement in disaster resilience, immersive technologies in crisis contexts, and AI tools for analysing engagement data. Building on this research, they developed a prototype immersive workshop experience to support reflection and dialogue between flood experts and affected communities in Ho Chi Minh City. The prototype explored creative interface concepts, including floating displays and gesture-based interaction, while also focusing on emotional design, ensuring participants felt comfortable contributing ideas in an open and supportive environment.

Given that both Vietnam and Australia have experienced significant flooding events in recent years, this study offers a timely investigation into how different policy contexts shape the use and impact of these technologies. Through interviews, workshops, and case study analysis, the research will generate recommendations and frameworks for inclusive, transparent, and effective community engagement in decision-making.