Mirthe's contribution to a future-proof Coast Guard

From issue to digital learning solution

"Developing a digital learning solution starts with a careful preliminary process. During the project, I work together with a team of designers, developers and a project manager. First, I have conversations with the customer to understand what problem they want to solve. Then I consult with subject matter experts to properly map out the issue and define the most important learning objectives. Based on these insights, I propose a suitable solution, such as an e-learning or serious game, together with the designer. Then I make a blueprint of the module, in which I work out the structure and type of questions, as well as any videos or a quiz. After approval from the customer, I will start building the digital learning solution myself, in collaboration with the designer. For more complex learning solutions that involve a lot of customization, the developers take care of a larger part of this."

Offshore wind  

"From the beginning of my career at Bright Alley, I have enjoyed working on projects for the Coast Guard. So far, I have developed four modules for them, including a basic and an in-depth module for the Offshore Wind project. Due to the increasing demand for wind energy, more and more offshore wind farms are being built, which together should generate as much as 49 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy by 2030. This leads to a narrower and busier route from the sea to the coast. Data shows that the number of accidents will increase as a result. The Coast Guard plays an important role in preventing these accidents by, for example, proactively making contact with people who sail through the wind farms and providing them with information. It is therefore essential that employees of the Coast Guard and other parties involved have the right basic knowledge to properly inform people and that they know how to act if something does go wrong."

"For example, Coast Guard employees need to know where the wind farms are located, which farms are and are not accessible to shipping, whether there are opportunities to anchor and who to approach in the event of a problem. In the in-depth module, we specifically discussed the rules surrounding rescue operations. Suppose a mechanic falls from a wind turbine; Then it is crucial that you know how to disable the other turbines, so that a rescue helicopter can land safely to rescue the mechanic."

Busier by the year

"In both modules, we visualized the increasingly crowded coastal waters. In the basic module, you can see a large map of the Dutch coast, which starts in 2007 with one wind farm and ends in 2021 with several wind farms. The in-depth module covers the period from 2022 to 2030. Each chapter represents a year. As the years go by, you see the coastal map becoming increasingly full of wind farms and the associated risk of accidents has also been mapped out. In the modules, we make it clear how many people, including Coast Guard staff, are involved from the initial plans to the daily operation of the wind farms and what risks this entails."

Projects with impact 

"With the modules that I have developed together with my colleagues, we contribute to keeping the knowledge of the Coast Guard employees up to date. We help them prepare for a future with more and more offshore wind farms. This ultimately leads to fewer accidents and ensures that wind energy can be supplied safely. Although I am only a very small part of the bigger picture, I am proud to be able to contribute to this".

"This also applies to the module on aircraft coordination, on which I worked. This module focuses on coordinating multiple helicopters in rescue operations. It is crucial that the helicopters do not get in each other's way and that it is clear which helicopter is investigating which area. This module has also been made available to employees in border areas with which the Netherlands cooperates."

Accessible learning solutions for everyone

"In the coming period, we at Bright Alley will be working on converting learning solutions into a digi-accessible format. According to the Digital Accessibility Act, (semi) government organizations are obliged to make their websites and apps accessible to everyone. This also applies to the modules of the Coast Guard. In practice, this means that we subtitle videos, provide transcripts and ensure that you can navigate without a mouse or that the module is readable by screen readers. You can also watch videos without audio thanks to subtitles. At Bright Alley, we are happy to support various parties in this in the coming period."