Abstract: Due to the increasing danger of terrorist attacks, it is necessary to determine the preventive effects of security measures installed in e.g. public transportation systems. Since, there is no common practice to determine the preventive effects; we developed two different methodologies to analyse those effects, both are suitable for the assessment of security measures. The first method is a semi-quantitative method based on expert-estimations combined with a modelled process of an attack.The second method models the scenarios using a multi-agent-based simulation framework. Simulating a large number of runs, it is possible to derive values for indicators of interest on statistical basis. We show the suitability of both methods by applying them on a practical example of a public transportation system. In this paper we introduce both methodologies, show an exemplary application and present the strengths and weaknesses and how they can be linked to get an increased benefit.

Abstract: This paper discusses our ongoing work on a system for collecting, managing and distributing relevant information in disaster relief operations. It describes the background and conditions under which the system is being developed and employed. We present our methodology, the requirements and current functionality of the system and the lessons learned in exercises and training, involving a large number of international disaster management experts. We found that the viability of this kind of tool is determined by three main factors, namely reliability, usability and frugality. The system has gone through many prototype iterations and has matured towards becoming operational in a specific type of mission, i.e. assessment missions for large scale natural and man-made disasters. This paper aims at making a wider audience of disaster management experts aware of that system and the support it may provide to their work. Other researchers and developers may find our experience useful for creating systems in similar domains.

Abstract: Tsunamis are a major risk for Lisbon (Portugal) coastal areas whose impacts can be extremely high, as confirmed by the past occurrence of major events. For correct risk assessment and awareness and for implementing mitigation measures, detailed simulation of exposure and evacuation is essential. This work uses a spatial modeling approach for estimating residential population distribution and exposure to tsunami flooding by individual building, and for simulating their evacuation travel time considering horizontal and vertical displacement. Results include finer evaluation of exposure to, and evacuation from, a potential tsunami, considering the specific inundation depth and building's height. This more detailed and accurate modeling of exposure to and evacuation from a potential tsunami can benefit risk assessment and contribute to more efficient Crisis Response and Management. © 2012 ISCRAM.

Abstract: Shock forest fires have short and long-terms devastating impact on the sustainable management and viability of natural, cultural and residential environments, the local and regional economies and societies. Thus, the utilisation of risk-based decision support systems which encapsulate the technological achievements in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and fire growth simulation models have rapidly increased in the last decades. On the other hand, the rise of image and video capturing technology, the usage mobile and wearable devices, and the availability of large amounts of multimedia in social media or other online repositories has increased the interest in the image understanding domain. Recent computer vision techniques endeavour to solve several societal problems with security and safety domains to be one of the most serious amongst others. Out of the millions of images that exist online in social media or news articles a great deal of them might include the existence of a crisis or emergency event. In this work, we propose a Multi-Layer Fusion framework, for Real-Time Fire Severity Assessment, based on knowledge extracted from the analysis of Fire Multimedia Incidents. Our approach consists of two levels: (a) an Early Fusion level, in which state-of-the-art image understanding techniques are deployed so as to discover fire incidents and objects from images, and (b) the Decision Fusion level which combines multiple fire incident reports aiming to assess the severity of the ongoing fire event. We evaluate our image understanding techniques in a collection of public fire image databases, and generate simulated incidents and feed them to our Decision Fusion level so as to showcase our method's applicability.

Abstract: The massive crowdsourced data generated on social networking platforms (e.g. Twitter and Flickr) provide free, real-time data for damage assessment (DA) even during catastrophes. Recent studies leveraging crowdsourced data for DA mainly focused on analyzing textual formats. Crowdsourced images can provide rich and objective information about damage conditions, however, are rarely researched for DA purposes. The highly-varied content and loosely-defined damage forms make it difficult to process and analyze the crowdsourced images. To address this problem, we propose a data-driven DA method based on multi-, crowd-sourced images, which includes five machine learning classifiers organized in a hierarchical structure. The method is validated with a case study investigating the damage condition of the City of Miami caused by Hurricane Irma. The outcome is then compared with a metric derived from NFIP insurance claims data. The proposed method offers a resource for rapid DA that supplements conventional DA methods.

Abstract: This paper describes research in progress exploring the use of mobile device technology and citizen sensors, as tools for emergency managers and planners to quickly to gather and map citizen perceptions of risk in communities exposed to tsunami hazards. VAPoR is an agile, deployable system developed at the Spatial Interface Research Lab that does this. It is currently being field tested on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. This evaluation assesses these technologies and methods, and their potential to help emergency planners mitigate risk in coastal communities. © 2012 ISCRAM.

Abstract: The mankind has passed through a significant historical frontier, including technological processes where hazardous substances are the potential threats for the employees, the public, environment and property and therefore it is inevitable to pay increased attention to the occurrence of the industrial accidents and mainly to their prevention. The area of safety of technical and technological systems is very closely connected not only with the reliability of the processes but also with the technical as well as social, legal and other aspects. There exist several systematic approaches, methods and techniques to assess industrial processes and risks linked to these processes on the European Union level and also on the national level of each member state. We can mention some basic systematic approaches – MOSAR, CPQRA, ARAMIS, PRA (PSA) widely used in this area. But according to the analyst's needs they usually miss structured and systematic approach, how to complete the risk assessment in steps and what the content of each of these steps is. The main focus of this paper is to discuss the theoretical aspects of the risk assessment in industrial processes and to show the possible approach of structured and systematic methods with support of logical diagrams to fulfill all tasks concerning the industrial accident assessment. Last but not least it is to present the research activities of the Department of Crisis Management, University of Žilina in Žilina, Slovakia. © 2012 ISCRAM.

Abstract: This paper focuses on the assessment of ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) in relation to agile information systems in the domain of crisis management. The authors analyse the differing needs of a move from a traditional approach to the development of information systems to an agile approach, which offers flexibility, adaptability and responds to the needs of users as the system develops. In turn, the authors argue that this development requires greater flexibility and an iterative approach to assessing ELSI. The authors provide an example from the Horizon 2020 EU-funded project iTRACK (Integrated system for real-time TRACKing and collective intelligence in civilian humanitarian missions) to exemplify this move to an iterative approach in practice, drawing on the process of undertaking an ethical and privacy impact assessment for the purpose of this project.

Abstract: Emergencies are management challenges, and emergency exercises that involve multiple collaborating parties is a means towards mastering them. Such exercises are often conducted in a virtual training environment based on complex disaster scenarios. The reported study was carried out using a requirement-focused design approach. The aim was to describe and discuss a relevant design for lean, dynamic, and cost-efficient emergency management exercise systems. Data were gathered from a literature study and analyses of earlier emergency management projects in which the authors had participated. Despite the complexity of many current emergency management exercises, the scenarios usually involve only the response phases and have a linear structure that hinders both didactic aspects and the software structure. The conclusion drawn from the study is that an emergency management exercise model should focus on managing the activities that correspond to alternatives that unfold from a dynamic scenario. Finally, the authors recommend the principles of alternate reality games as a way towards more dynamic and cost-efficient emergency exercise systems.

Abstract: There is a growing global demand for planning and development interventions aimed at enhancing the resilience of human systems. Coinciding with this demand for resilience enhancement is the demand for rigorous monitoring and evaluation of resilience and of the efficacy of resilience interventions. The aim of these assessments is to help decision makers prioritise inputs in a way that will result in the greatest reduction of mortality, health effects, and economic losses. As a result, there is an almost insatiable hunger for data that can improve our understanding of the resilience of human systems in the face of disasters. This paper reflects on two ongoing projects that are part of the 'Resilience Trajectories' programme of the Resilience to Nature's Challenges National Science Challenge. The first project, the creation of a New Zealand Resilience Index, is used to illustrate the data-related challenges and limitations of quantitative resilience assessments. We argue that composite indicators are useful aids for having a robust discussion about resilience, but high-level indicators must be supplemented with local knowledge and contextual information to facilitate meaningful decision making. The second project, the Data Integration and Visualisation En Masse (DIVE) web-based data catalogue, presents a partial solution to some of the resilience data challenges we have observed in the creation of the national index.

Abstract: The STATPack is a telemedicine consultation and emergency response system which was developed to increase statewide laboratory responsiveness to public health emergencies. Although several emergency response management information systems have been created for diagnostic laboratories at the national level, most states in the U.S. do not have the capability to share critical public health microbiology laboratory information at local levels, especially in rural communities. This paper offers a description and preliminary assessment of the STATPack as it is being deployed by the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory and should be recognized as research in-progress. Initial experiences with this emergency response system have been encouraging.

Abstract: This paper discusses an experiment with a formative method for ethical impact assessment (EIA) in the context of IT design for multi-agency crisis management that draws on scenarios and role-playing to ground ethics in a broader socio-technical domain not just in user needs and values. Contextualising the EIA discussions in this way opened up new avenues for addressing ethical concerns, broadening the design context from a focus on usability to thinking creatively and collaboratively through ethical, legal and social implications.