An Interactive, Collaborative Digital Gamification Approach to Effective Experiential Training and Prediction of Criminal Actions

Project Information

LAW-GAME

Grant agreement ID: 101021714

DOI

10.3030/101021714

Project closed

EC signature date 21 April 2021

Start date 1 September 2021

End date 31 August 2024

Funded under

• Secure societies - Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens

Total cost

€ 6 999 490,00

EU contribution

€ 6 999 490,00

Coordinated by

EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY - CYPRUS LTD
Cyprus

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - LAW-GAME (An Interactive, Collaborative Digital Gamification Approach to Effective Experiential Training and Prediction of Criminal Actions)

Reporting period: 2023-03-01 to 2024-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Organized crime and terrorist organisations are often at the forefront of technological innovation in planning, executing and concealing their criminal activities and the revenues stemming from them. There is a growing need to focus on technology opportunities provided by new and emerging technologies in advancing Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in tackling criminal activities supported by advanced technologies, but also to support professional development and build LEAs capabilities and skills, allowing them to perform their daily operations effectively.
As new technologies are introduced to the law enforcement field, departments must ensure their officers are well trained and well versed on how to use these new tools effectively. New automated technologies such as artificial intelligence and predictive analytics are being used by law enforcement to both improve efficiency and enhance safety.
It is a fact that many training and educational programs are out of date and insufficient in preparing officers for the real-world challenges they will face. Not to mention the lack of focus on core skills related to leadership such as communication competencies, conflict resolution and management.
LAW-GAME aims to develop to the law enforcement domain a new form of training system combining Virtual and Constructive simulation technologies for criminal actions, terrorism-attack prevention, police interview and car accident analysis training exercises. Realism, engagement, interaction, immersion and active participation are the core principles of this proposed virtual-reality gaming approach. LAW-GAME aims at improving the overall training process in terms of effectiveness, time, budget, location and disruption. LAW-GAME artificial Intelligence technologies will reproduce actual terrorist incidents, and analyze crime and car accident scenes improving police operations through better preparation of the officers in the realistic scenarios and work as new tools in police arsenals.The vision of the LAW-GAME team is that the proposed system will be adopted as the pan-European training platform for a large number of users in the security domain.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

For the first reporting period key elements, such as user roles, data exchange, functional and non-functional requirements, and technical components, have been identified for system architecture. The first prototype of the dialogue engine, enabling smooth interactions between players and NPCs, has been developed, along with the AI narrator providing context-aware hints. Additionally, the first version of the scenario configurator, generating mini-game challenges, is available and documented. In addition to the mini-game scenarios, the crime scene reconstruction, object and human detection, and ballistics analysis modules form a standalone tool for crime scene analysis were available. During this period, tasks began to define the LAW-GAME knowledge base, focusing on how to represent data for the future big data engine. The early-stage design of the LAW-GAME infrastructure supported rapid development of the back-end, front-end, and required services. Additionally, awareness actions and exploitation roadmap activities were planned, with participation in the CC-Driver Cluster. The Advisory Board (AB) was established to address technological, innovation, and ethics requirements, and DPOs from various partners were identified to ensure compliance with defined procedures.
During the second reporting period, the LAW-GAME partners revisited the requirements specification framework from the first reporting period. The updated framework informed the further development of the LAW-GAME system prototypes in WP3-WP8, in alignment with the use case definition and pilot specifications. The updated requirements, along with the final system specifications and architecture guided the continued development of the LAW-GAME system and integrated platform. LAW-GAME also finalized and optimized system prototypes. These components were regularly tested by end users and the broader LEA community at events like the CERIS Annual Event (December 2023, Brussels), Europol Industry and Research Days (January 2024, The Hague), and a demonstration at the National Police Academy in Spain (July 2024). The final system demonstrations at end-user premises were highly successful, with experts from end-user organizations and the Romanian Police (ballistic analysis specialists) involved in the pilot executions. The selection of LAW-GAME by EUROPOL over other industry solutions, motivates the consortium to further develop the project results from TRL 6 to a higher TRL post-project. The consortium focused on an effective exploitation strategy, utilizing EC tools, European funds, and private or joint initiatives. The project culminated with the "Final Event" in Cyprus on August 30th, showcasing key milestones and technical achievements. AB members discussed the platform’s impact on law enforcement training, with live demos illustrating how gamification enhances decision-making and situational awareness. Feedback from law enforcement pilots highlighted the system's effectiveness, and the event concluded with ethical discussions and future strategies.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

LAW-GAME integrates a series of state-of-the-art technological achievements.
The proposed learning experience focuses on the development of the key competences needed for successfully operating in diverse and distributed teams, as required by several cross-organisational and international cooperation situations that police officers’ face.
LAW-GAME project is an innovative training platform that combines state-of-the-art technology with immersive gameplay to provide a comprehensive training experience for professionals in the field of law enforcement.
The project is divided into various work packages, each tasked with developing specific modules that will be integrated into the final platform. These modules include human emotion modelling, stance modelling, dialogue engine, AI narrator, scenario configurator, crime scene reconstruction, object and human detection, and ballistics analysis.
The human emotion and stance modelling modules utilise physiological signals, facial expressions, and game video, audio and player video feeds to accurately predict the players’ emotional state and stance, respectively. The dialogue engine enables smooth interactions between human players and non-player characters (NPCs), while the AI narrator provides context-aware hints and instructions to guide players through the game. Finally, the scenario configurator generates a wide range of mini-game scenarios, each designed to challenge players.
Building upon an in-depth analysis of police officers’ learning needs and inspired by a multitude of disciplines, LAW-GAME will develop an advanced learning experience, embedded into three comprehensive “mini games” dedicated to train police officers.
The proposed learning experience focuses on the development of the key competences needed for successfully operating in diverse and distributed teams, as required by several cross-organisational and international cooperation situations that police officers’ face.
LAW-GAME maximises the returns from EC’s investment in science and technology, addresses and provide solutions for border control and management planning and optimization thanks and will allow creating new job opportunities that will have an economic impact on the citizens’ life.

LAW-GAME Main Technological Components