Alexander Gabriel, Florian Brauner, Andreas Lotter, Frank Fiedrich, & Ompe Aimé Mudimu. (2018). The determination of critical components of European Rail Traffic Management systems towards cyber-attacks. In Kees Boersma, & Brian Tomaszeski (Eds.), ISCRAM 2018 Conference Proceedings – 15th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 291–303). Rochester, NY (USA): Rochester Institute of Technology.
Abstract: “Recent events have shown the vulnerability of IT systems of companies, organizations or even governments to hacker attacks. At the same time, information technologies are becoming increasingly established and important in various industries (digitalization). With a view to the modern development of terrorism, cyber-attacks can be used to physically damage critical infrastructures (CI). This leads to a new dimension of cyber-attacks, which are called terrorist cyber-attacks. The following research contributes to the identification of weak information technology components of railway operating systems and thus improves the safety of public transportation in the context of the European railway traffic management system (ERTMS). The core of this paper is an extended literature research on security flaws in the ERTMS. The future introduction of a methodology for evaluating the criticality of information technology system components will build on this using cyber threats and public transportation as examples.”
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Alexander Gabriel, Florian Klein, & Frank Fiedrich. (2020). Modelling of Passenger Handling Processes in Railway Stations – A Mixed-Methods Approach. In Amanda Hughes, Fiona McNeill, & Christopher W. Zobel (Eds.), ISCRAM 2020 Conference Proceedings – 17th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 580–592). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: The constantly increasing number of passengers using public transportation leads to an expansion of the ser-vices offered by public transportation companies. The existing transportation infrastructures, especially rail-way stations, can only partly cope with this rapid growth. There is already overcrowding on platforms and access routes, especially during disruptions caused by natural disasters or major public events. This crowding may result in personal injury or shutdown of operations for safety reasons. The research project CroMa aims at improving robustness, safety, security and performance of railway stations at peak loads. The paper contributes thereto by developing an approach to assess railway infrastructure in terms of the risk of overcrowding. The core of this research is to combine qualitative workshop results with quantitative database analysis. Furthermore, the paper gives an outlook on the ongoing process model development as a basis for a semi-quantitative evaluation tool for railway stations applicable by end users.
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Andreas Lotter, Florian Brauner, Alexander Gabriel, Frank Fiedrich, & Stefan Martini. (2017). New Decision-Support Framework for Strengthening Disaster Resilience in Cross-Border Areas. In eds Aurélie Montarnal Matthieu Lauras Chihab Hanachi F. B. Tina Comes (Ed.), Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response And Management (pp. 412–419). Albi, France: Iscram.
Abstract: The improvement of disaster resilience in cross-border areas causes special challenges. Involved countries use different structures in their civil protection systems and have to work together facing more difficult conditions than in local incidents. Furthermore, in the past involved countries mainly worked individually and focused on the concerned areas in their territories regardless transnational activities. The project INCA will develop a resilience framework to support decision-makers. The framework will focus on information management, the implementation of volunteers and the needs of citizens who are receiving medical care. Therefore, a case study region on the German-French border was defined and a scenario-based approach will be used to investigate resilience opportunities through disaster collaboration. The tested scenario is a transnational long-lasting power-outage in the German-French region.
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Andreas Lotter, Philipp John, Patricia Schütte, Florian Brauner, & Frank Fiedrich. (2020). Field Observation of Parallel Working Coordination Groups and Command and Control Centres to Understand and Improve Inter-organizational Information Management – A Methodical Approach. In Amanda Hughes, Fiona McNeill, & Christopher W. Zobel (Eds.), ISCRAM 2020 Conference Proceedings – 17th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 303–314). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: In emergency response, parallel working coordination groups and command and control centres are responsible to deal with complex events. A well-functioning exchange of information between organizations, officials and these coordination groups is the basis for an efficient risk management. This paper describes a methodical ap-proach for field observation to understand and improve the inter-organizational information management be-tween the involved partners. The method was tested within a practical approach and possible occurring problems during the observation were identified and solutions for these problems are provided.
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David Mendonça, & Frank Fiedrich. (2004). Design for improvisation in computer-based emergency response systems. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2004 – 1st International Workshop on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 99–104). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: This paper explores the design of training environments in which emergency response professionals can use information technologies to train for responding to unplanned-for situations. This approach – designing for improvisation – is fundamentally different than designing for plan execution. In this paper, we identify three dimensions of this difference and outline a set of research questions that are intended to lead to a better understanding of the role of improvisation in emergency response, as well as how it can be trained for and supported. Both questions are intertwined, since without a firm understanding of how improvisation occurs it is difficult to train for and support it. © Proceedings ISCRAM 2004.
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Eric Rigaud, Anouck Adrot, Frank Fiedrich, Nour Kanaan, Miriam Klein, Farnaz Mahdavian, et al. (2020). Borderland Resilience Studies. In Amanda Hughes, Fiona McNeill, & Christopher W. Zobel (Eds.), ISCRAM 2020 Conference Proceedings – 17th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 338–355). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: This article describes the definition and characteristics of borderland resilience studies as an academic field, and precisely its core phenomenon, major themes or components and challenges. The phenomenon of borderland resilience is firstly defined. The results of empirical studies complete the conceptual description. Finally, the article proposes a set of research and development challenges.
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Florian Brauner, Thomas Münzberg, Marcus Wiens, Frank Fiedrich, Alex Lechleuthner, & Frank Schultmann. (2015). Critical Infrastructure Resilience: A Framework for Considering Micro and Macro Observation Levels. In L. Palen, M. Buscher, T. Comes, & A. Hughes (Eds.), ISCRAM 2015 Conference Proceedings ? 12th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management. Kristiansand, Norway: University of Agder (UiA).
Abstract: The resilience mechanisms of Critical Infrastructures (CIs) are often hard to understand due to system complexity. With rising research interest, models are developed to reduce this complexity. However, these models imply reductions and limitations. According to the level of observation, models either focus on effects in a CI system or on effects in a single CI. In cases of limited resources, such limitations exclude some considerations of crisis interventions, which could be identified in combining both observation levels. To overcome these restrictions, we propose a two-step framework which enables to analyze the vulnerability of a CI and as well in comparison to other CIs. This enhances the understanding of temporal crisis impacts on the overall performance of the supply, and the crisis preparations in each CI can be assessed. The framework is applied to the demonstrating example of the functionalities of hospitals that are potentially suffering from a power outage.
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Frank Fiedrich, Bartel A. Van De Walle, Theresa I. Jefferson, & John R. Harrald. (2008). Welcome message from the ISCRAM2008 Conference and Program Chairs. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (-). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
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Hagen Engelmann, & Frank Fiedrich. (2009). DMT-EOC – A combined system for the decision support and training of EOC members. In S. J. J. Landgren (Ed.), ISCRAM 2009 – 6th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: Boundary Spanning Initiatives and New Perspectives. Gothenburg: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: The first hours after a disaster are essential to minimizing the loss of life. The chance for survival in the debris of a collapsed building for example decreases considerably after 72 hours. However the available information in the first hours after a disaster is limited, uncertain and dynamically changing. A goal in the development of the Disaster Management Tool (DMT) was to support the management of this situation. Its module DMT-EOC specifically deals with problems of the members in an emergency operation centre (EOC) by providing a training environment for computer based table top exercises and assistance during earthquake disasters. The system is based on a flexible and extendible architecture that integrates different concepts and programming interfaces. It contains a simulation for training exercises and the evaluation of decisions during disaster response. A decision support implemented as a multi-agent system (MAS) combines operation research approaches and rule-base evaluation for advice giving and criticising user decisions. The user interface is based on a workflow model which mixes naturalistic with analytic decision-making. The paper gives an overview of the models behind the system components, describes their implementation, and the testing of the resulting system.
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Hagen Engelmann, & Frank Fiedrich. (2007). Decision support for the members of an emergency operation centre after an earthquake. In K. Nieuwenhuis P. B. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Intelligent Human Computer Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM 2007 Academic Proceedings Papers (pp. 317–326). Delft: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: The first three days after an earthquake disaster demand good decisions in a very complex environment. Members of emergency operation centres (EOC) have to make decisions with limited information and under high time pressure. But the first 72 hours of disaster response activities are essential to minimize loss of life. Within the interdisciplinary German Collaborative Research Center 461: “Strong Earthquakes: A Challenge for Geosciences and Civil Engineering” a so-called Disaster Management Tool (DMT) is under development which presents some ideas for appropriate solutions to this problem. One module of the DMT will provide decision-support for the members of an EOC based on the Recognition-Primed Decision (RPD) model, a description of the decision-making process of persons in real-world settings. Options for a reasonable computer-based decision support for the RPD process will be discussed. For this the system combines a simulation of the disaster environment with a multi-agent system (MAS). The simulation shows the results of different decisions so the decision-makers can evaluate them. The MAS calculates a solution for optimal resource allocation taking into account current available information. The goal of the ongoing work is to integrate these instruments into a user-friendly interface considering the real life needs of decision-makers in an EOC.
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John R. Harrald, Theresa I. Jefferson, Frank Fiedrich, Sebnem Sener, & Clinton Mixted-Freeman. (2007). A first step in decision support tools for humanitarian assistance during catastrophic disasters: Modeling hazard generated needs. In K. Nieuwenhuis P. B. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Intelligent Human Computer Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM 2007 Academic Proceedings Papers (pp. 51–56). Delft: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: The US has not yet developed adequate models for estimating hazard generated needs, the necessary first step for developing useful decision support systems needed to estimate the capability and capacity of the response forces required. Modeling and technology required to support the decisions made by humanitarian relief organizations requires scenario driven catastrophic planning. This paper documents the lack of effective decision support tools and systems for humanitarian aid and describes the current state of models and methods used for determination of hazard generated needs. The paper discusses work performed on a catastrophic earthquake preparedness project. It outlines how the results of this project will be used to advance the modeling and decision support capabilities of federal, state and local disaster planners and emergency responders.
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Miriam Klein, Eric Rigaud, Marcus Wiens, Anouck Adrot, Frank Fiedrich, Nour Kanaan, et al. (2018). A Multi-Agent System for Studying Cross-Border Disaster Resilience. In Kees Boersma, & Brian Tomaszeski (Eds.), ISCRAM 2018 Conference Proceedings – 15th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 135–144). Rochester, NY (USA): Rochester Institute of Technology.
Abstract: Resilience to disasters depends on measures taken before, during and after the occurrence of adverse events. These measures require interactions between people belonging to different organizations (public, private, non-profit) and citizens in normal and stressful situations. The efficiency of resilience measures results from the collective interaction of individuals, groups of individuals, and organizations, as well as the situational characteristics of the decision environment. The aim of the French-German research project INCA is to develop a decision support framework for improving cross-border area resilience to disasters. This project comprises the design and the implementation of a multi-agent system with the objective to study the behavioral and organizational implications of cross-border cooperation for crisis management and disaster resilience. The analyzed measures focus on citizens who require medical support and the integration of volunteers into the crisis management procedure. This paper outlines the potentials of the multi-agent system and provides first implementation insights.
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Sarp Yeletaysi, Frank Fiedrich, & John R. Harrald. (2008). A framework for integrating GIS and systems simulation to analyze operational continuity of the petroleum supply chain. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 586–595). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Crisis and disaster management is a field that requires the understanding and application of tools and knowledge from multiple disciplines. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 have proven that U.S. petroleum infrastructure is vulnerable to major supply disruptions as a direct result of disasters. Due to the structure of U.S. oil supply chain, primary oil production centers (i.e. PADD* 3) are geographically separated from primary demand centers (i.e. PADD 1), which creates a natural dependency between those districts. To better understand the extent of those dependencies and downstream impacts of supply disruptions, a multi-disciplinary research approach is necessary. The cross-disciplines in this research include disaster management, critical infrastructure and oil supply chain management, and the utilization of geographic information systems (GIS) and systems simulation. This paper specifically focuses on the framework for integrating GIS and systems simulation as analysis tools in this research.
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Simone Wurster, Frank Fiedrich, Michael Klafft, & Andreas Bohn. (2016). Sudden Cardiac Arrest and the Role of Crowd Tasking Apps for Risk Mitigation. In A. Tapia, P. Antunes, V.A. Bañuls, K. Moore, & J. Porto (Eds.), ISCRAM 2016 Conference Proceedings ? 13th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management. Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Abstract: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is among the three most prominent causes of death in industrialized nations. Therefore, experts are calling for solutions, including smartphone-based systems to mobilize volunteers. German researchers are developing a crisis response system with a crowd tasking app. It aims to help reduce the effects of large-scale events, but also of ad-hoc incidents including SCA. This paper describes an approach to determine the potential of the system to increase the survival rate of SCA illustrated by an example. Its concept was analyzed by five experts from three countries and benefited from their feedback.
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Yannic Schulte, Miriam Klein, Marcus Wiens, & Frank Fiedrich. (2020). Spontaneous Volunteers Across National Borders: An Agent-Based Comparison. In Amanda Hughes, Fiona McNeill, & Christopher W. Zobel (Eds.), ISCRAM 2020 Conference Proceedings – 17th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 327–336). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: In today's globalized world and with the extensive use of social media, there is a high connectivity of people across countries, which can be a helpful potential in disaster response. In a coordinated manner, spontaneous volunteers from neighbouring nations can provide high manpower and resources to a disaster affected area. In this article, we discuss why the consideration of spontaneous volunteers is relevant in a cross-border context in order to improve disaster resilience for borderlands. Furthermore, we introduce a baseline agent-based model to simulate cooperation procedures for the involvement of spontaneous volunteers to the official crisis response in a borderland and discuss important issues that need to be addressed in future considerations.
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