Abstract: Cross-border regions are particularly exposed to hazards and require cooperation for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Accordingly, multiple countries have been investing in technology and jointly innovate to share and process data against disasters. However, these countries’ capacity to share data depends on the history and the context of the border itself. Going further, conflicts between countries – may they be past, present or future – can radically question and endanger collaborative efforts to share data for DRR. This collaborative research, involving a cohort of master students and an NGO, explores the influence of conflicts on data sharing and cooperation for DRR. Still in progress, this research examines how conflicts affect data sharing and how DRR actors manage them. It is based on exploratory archive analysis of three distinct cases of cross-border DRR collaboration within the EU borders, as well as experts and actors interviewing. Preliminary findings reveal that conflicts affect DRR at three levels: i) actors, ii) interactions with DRR actors, iii) relations between local DRR actors and institutions. The expected contribution of this research is theoretical, practical and pedagogical.

Abstract: Indigenous communities are disproportionately impacted by rising disaster risk, climate change, and environmental degradation due to their close relationship with the environment and its resources. Unfortunately, gathering the necessary information or evidence to request or co-share sufficient funds can be challenging for indigenous people and their lands. This paper aims to co-design an AI-based chatbot with two tribes and investigate their perception and experience of using it in disaster reporting practices. The study was conducted in two stages. Firstly, we interviewed experienced first-line emergency managers and invited tribal members to an in-person design workshop. Secondly, based on qualitative analysis, we identified three themes of emergency communication, documentation, and user experience. Our findings support that indigenous communities favored the proposed Emergency Reporter chatbot solution. We further discussed how the proposed chatbot could empower the tribes in disaster management, preserve sovereignty, and seek support from other agencies.

Abstract: The resilience of increasingly interdependent Critical Infrastructure (CI) systems hugely depends on the stakeholder organizations’ ability to exchange information and coordinate, while CI’s cross-border dimension further increases the complexity and challenges. This paper presents the progress in the Lombardy Region (Italy) and Canton Ticino (Switzerland) on the joint capacity to manage disruptive events involving transportation CI between the two countries. We present a cross-border digital platform (Critical Infrastructure Platform – PIC) and its main functionalities for improved cross-border risk and resilience management of CI. A use case, based on a scenario of an intense snowfall along the transboundary motorway impacting both countries, demonstrates how PIC advances the exchange of information, its visualization and analysis in real-time. The use case also shows the practical value of the digital platform and its potential to support the management of cross-border events (and their cascading events) that require the cooperation of Italian and Swiss actors.

Abstract: Effective emergency communication between citizens and authorities after a power outage can be a challenging task. In such situations, citizens may be in danger and need to contact authorities in case of an emergency. However, overloaded cellular networks and failing network infrastructure can severely hamper citizens' ability to communicate with authorities, even if their smartphones are still functioning. Addressing these challenges requires the development of effective post-blackout communication systems that can operate in a range of emergency scenarios. In this work we investigate smartphone state of charge during the day in order to evaluate the impact of a power outage on the citizens ability to communicate in a post-blackout scenario. The results are then used to propose future-proof communication networks that are suitable for post-blackout emergency communication especially after cellular network infrastructure has failed. We introduce two post-blackout communication phases named communication-burst and communication-void. Our study indicates that a significant amount of smartphones remain usable even after a long-lasting blackout and communication infrastructure failure. Not utilizing these devices could lead to missed opportunities for emergency communication

Abstract: Supervision of technical dives is particularly important in emergency and disaster response operations to ensure the safety of divers in unexplored locations with uncertain conditions. Diver monitoring relies primarily on voice communication and a video stream that gives the operator a first-person view of the diver. However, in many cases underwater visibility can drop to just a few centimeters, leaving the diver only able to feel his way with his hands and the operator depended only on voice communication, making it very difficult for both of them to identify upcoming hazards. In the DeeperSense research project, we are attempting to reduce the limitations caused by poor underwater visibility by using a sonar in combination with an AI-based algorithm designed to translate the sonar signal into a visual image that is independent of the turbidity of the water and gives an overview of the situation where the eye can no longer see anything. Laboratory results show that visual information can be recovered from sonar data.

Abstract: To help practitioners better meet the needs of the public at large when managing diverse groups of people during a CBRNe (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and explosive) incident, the PROACTIVE project is developing a CBRNe smartphone disaster app which aims to improve the efficiency of the communication between law enforcement agencies, policy makers and citizens. By using a co-creation methodology with both civil society organisations and CBRNe practitioners, PROACTIVE ensures the app will meet the needs and expectations of both end-user groups. This work-in-progress paper focuses on a workshop carried out with practitioners to test the first mobile app prototype. The results demonstrate that the prototype mobile app is in line with practitioners expectations but that there is room for improvement, such as more visuals, and new features, such as translation, should be added. Looking forward, the app will be updated before being tested in upcoming field training exercises.

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic followed by the energy crisis in Europe demonstrates how complex crises can be. Being embedded in a digital media environment and global interdependencies, complex crises elude straightforward interpretations and explanations. Nonetheless, crises require fast and coordinated response from multiple public authorities. In recent years, advances in computational methods and information technology have influenced the field of crisis and disaster management, and diverse technical approaches have been developed to enhance authorities’ response to crises. Drawing on a relational approach to crises, we investigate the socio-technical affordances emerging in Finland to facilitate multi-actor collaboration in crises. Based on our analysis, we argue that contemporary practices and technologies do not match with the complexity of recent crises. Taken together, we consider the role of digital technologies and socio-technical practices to better support multi-actor sensemaking and collaboration in future crises.

Abstract: Virtual Reality (VR) is often used for its ability to mimic reality. However, VR can also be used for its ability to escape reality. In that case, on the one hand VR provides a visualization environment where the user’s senses are still in a familiar context (one can see if something is in front, behind, up, down, far or close), yet on the other hand, VR allows to escape the usual limits of reality by providing a way to turn abstract concepts into concrete and interactive objects. In this paper, the dynamic management of a complex industrial system (a supply chain) is enabled in a VR prototypical environment, through the management of a physical trajectory that can be deflected by the impact of any potentialities such as risks or opportunities, seen as physical objects in the performance space.

Abstract: In emergencies, preparation is of paramount importance but it is not sufficient. As we know, emergency agencies develop extensive (text) plans to deal with accidents that could occur in their territories; their personnel train to enact such procedures, but, despite that, the unpredictable conditions that occur during an emergency require the ability to adapt the plan promptly. This paper deals with the last mile of a process we defined for enabling the adaptive execution of such emergency plans. In previous works, we discussed how to convert a free-text plan into a structured-text form, represent this plan using standard modelling notations, and extract goals that plans prescribe to be fulfilled. In this paper, we propose an approach for executing these plans with a workflow execution engine enriched by the capability to support runtime adaptation.

Abstract: This case study examines collaborative information seeking in a public-safety answering point during a 911 call surge that occurred when a man fired an assault rifle at police officers and evaded capture for nearly an hour in March 2020. Overwhelmed by questionable and imprecise reports from 911 callers, telecommunicators and on scene responders began working together to conduct broad and deep searches for the shooter. Whereas broad searches improved the scope of information gathering by identifying multiple, albeit questionable and imprecise, reports of the suspect’s location, deep searches improved the quality of information gathering by investigating 911 callers’ reports using drone, helicopter, and patrol units. These findings suggest requirements for collaborative information seeking in public-safety answering points, including capabilities to conduct broad and deep searches using next-generation 911 technologies, and command and control requirements for triaging these search tasks within inter-organizational emergency response systems.

Abstract: Planning, designing, facilitating, and evaluating are central activities for instructors when conducting exercises. When conducting these activities, instructors usually rely on past experiences since structured educations or guides for instructors do not exist. It is therefore evident that there is a need for such educations or guides. In this study, the contents of a guide for instructors are proposed. The contents are based on seven semi-structured interviews with novel and experienced instructors, where they were asked to map their procedures for conducting exercises through a journey map. The interviews resulted in material which was transcribed and analysed using a thematic analysis. The thematic analysis emphasized five themes to consider when acting as an instructor, namely roles, realism, defining purpose and goals, learning, and planning and acting. The results from the interviews, combined with past literature, resulted in proposed contents for an instructor’s guide which is currently being developed.

Abstract: Crisis Named Resources (or CNRs) are social media pages and accounts named after a crisis event. Using the COVID-19 Pandemic as a case study, we identified and examined the role of CNRs that shared humor on Twitter. Our analyses showed that humor-based CNRs shared virus-related rumors, stigma, safety measures, opinions, sarcasm, and news updates. These resources also shared the overall anger and frustration over the year 2020. We conclude by discussing the critical role of humor based CNRs in crisis response.