Hazardometrics: a playful approach to strengthening risk awareness
This case study belongs to a compendium of good practices and success stories in disaster risk reduction shared during the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025). These stories reflect the real-world progress being made by governments, communities, and organizations around the world to reduce risk and build resilience.
Since August 2024, an innovative international project has been transforming how people understand disaster risk—through play. Known as the Hazardometrics Game, this pictographic card-based activity aims to enhance community understanding of hazards, perceived vulnerability, and self-protection measures across diverse populations.
Piloted in Mexico and presented at many global fora, the activity has been refined through academic collaboration and community testing. It has been implemented in schools and universities, including institutions for students with hearing disabilities through the integration of sign language. Translated into French, Italian, and English, it has also been introduced to civil protection authorities in Paris and Rome.
A dedicated digital version—complete with iOS, Android, and web access—features an AI-powered avatar to deliver the learning experiences. The goal is to bring hazard education to more people in more formats, with tailored, accessible content.
Impacts have been tangible. The game directly engaged over 2,000 participants thus far, and 78 ambassadors have been trained to replicate the activity in their own communities. Evaluation surveys revealed that 75% of participants could correctly identify various hazard phenomena. However, results also showed persistent gaps in perceived vulnerability and action readiness, highlighting the game’s role in uncovering critical education needs. The activity achieved a 95% satisfaction rate, with users calling it effective and engaging.
By combining play, data collection, and community involvement, Hazardometrics is demonstrating that gamification can be a compelling strategy for mainstreaming risk understanding among communities.
Source: Submitted via the GP2025 Share Your Success Story survey