The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the risks and effects of flooding around the UK.
Launched by Sir David King, the government's chief scientific adviser, FloodRanger is a flood simulator which puts the operator in control of a fictional area of the UK coast over a 100-year period.
The aim is to defend cities, towns and the countryside in a virtual terrain while maintaining levels of housing and jobs for an expanding population.
The simulator was developed by the DTI's Foresight project on flood and coastal defences.
The DTI said it would be a useful tool for local authorities, the Environment Agency, other government departments, universities, as well as for educating those involved with flood planning and management.
King said: "Flooding can have a devastating effect on people's homes and businesses. There are around £200bn worth of assets and 1.7million households in flood risk areas in England and Wales.
"Current measures reduce the risk considerably, but as there are clear indications that flood risk will increase, long-term planning is vital.
"FloodRanger is intended to raise awareness of flood and coastal defence issues in a way that is both fun and thought provoking. It is an innovative new tool to be used as a learning process for anyone involved with flood management."
