Pollution Runner: a Serious Game to Promote Awareness towards Air Pollution

Engaging the general public in science and providing easy access to scientific knowledge poses significant challenges. In the context of air pollution, we present an integrated approach that combines citizen science, serious games, and accessible technologies as a strategic solution to engage the general public in scientific endeavors. We propose the use of a Serious Game that employs real-time sensor data to raise awareness, disseminate information, and potentially encourage an attitude change. The integration of real-time sensors conjugated with the peculiarities of Serious Games and player motivation theories represent the core concept of providing real-time data in a playful and comprehensible manner. The paper discusses the design and development of the Pollution Runner, a 3D runner game implemented in Unity; the game features game mechanics, interfaces, and difficulty levels based on real-time data fetched from air quality sensors adhering to EPA standards and shared through The World Air Quality Index project. Such data are exported in HTML5 format to maximize its reach, compatibility, accessibility, and ease of use. Through the implementation of this integrated approach, we aim to facilitate public engagement in understanding and addressing sensor data related to air pollution while providing an enjoyable gaming experience, aimed to have a meaningful impact.