Abstract: There are problems for managing and sharing geo-data effectively in Turkey. The key to resolving these problems is to develop a harmonized geo-data model. General features of this model are based on ISO/TC211 standards, INSPIRE Data Specifications, and expectations of Turkey National GIS actions. The generic conceptual model components were defined to harmonize geo-data and to produce data specifications. In order to enable semantic interoperability, application schemas were designed for data themes such as administrative unit, address, cadastre/building, hydrographic, topography, geodesy, transportation, and land cover/use. The model, as base and the domain geo-data model, is a starting point to create sector models in different thematic areas. Disaster Management Geo-data Model model was developed as an extension of base geo-data model to manage geo-data collaborate on disaster management activities. This model includes existing geo-data special for disaster management activities and dynamic data collecting during disaster.

Abstract: In emergency management, communication between the emergency management team and the outer world is essential. When using an emergency management system, such communication is often IT-based. To disburden the emergency management team, structured “B2B” messages may be used that correspond to the (foreseen) lifecycle of relevant entities in the emergency, such as threats and measures. The paper introduces an approach for the realization of a B2B messaging protocol and the corresponding integration engine, which maps message content to service calls, in the context of an emergency management system. The approach is light-weight and model-based, as protocols and integration engine are based on merely modeling the states and state transitions of objects in the system representing essential entities in the emergency. As the model is described in non-technical terms, this can be done by a non-IT expert.

Abstract: We propose an Information Highway (IH) which addresses interoperability in software systems supporting Humanitarian Crises (HC) and consequently enables efficient decision making at any level: operational, organizational and donor levels. We model our IH by (a) manipulating the semantics stored in knowledge of data repositories, which are interwoven in everyday activities of managing responses to HC and (b) understanding the meaning and the purpose of requests for data retrievals issued in such environments.

Abstract: There is a growing call for the use of open source content standards for all-hazards, all-media alert and notification systems. This paper presents findings on the implementation of Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) as a content standard for a community-based hazard information network in Sri Lanka. CAP is being deployed as part of the HazInfo project, which has established last-mile networking capability for 32 tsunami-affected villages in Sri Lanka in order to study the suitability of various Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) for a standards-based community hazard information system. Results to date suggest that the basic internetworking arrangement at lower technical layers has proven to be reasonably robust and reliable but that a key challenge remains in the upper layers of application software and content provision. This is evident in the apparent difficulties faced when implementing CAP messaging over multiple last-mile systems that include commercial satellite and terrestrial network technologies (C/L/X-Band, GSM, and CDMA in modes of voice and text). Lessons learned from silent tests and live exercises point to several key bottlenecks in the system where the integrity of CAP messages is compromised due to problems associated with software interoperability or direct human intervention. The wider implication of this finding is that content standards by themselves are not sufficient to support appropriate and timely emergency response activities. Those working with content standards for hazard information systems must consider closely the interoperability issues at various layers of interconnectivity.

Abstract: The creation of action statistics of fire extinction services is a common activity in the management of forest-fires emergencies. The compilation of action data and the elaboration of statistics based upon those data allow drawing relevant information about forest fires emergencies and fire extinction services. The creation of action statistics requires the exchange of heterogeneous data, with different granularity and detail, among scattered sources. This paper introduces a Forest Fire Report Data Model devoted to be a data reference model for sharing and exchanging forest fire reports in order to achieve syntactic interoperability among independent systems. The definition of the model has been based on the review of forest fire statistics made by different agencies as well as the experience gained in developing an information system, called SIU6, for the creation of action reports of.

Abstract: As natural and man-made disasters become increasingly common, ensuring effective disaster response, mitigation and recovery is growing into a high-priority task for governments and administrations globally. This paper describes the challenges of collaboration within multi-organisational hastily formed networks for post-disaster response, which are increasingly relying on emerging ICT infrastructures for communication and cooperation. We present an interdisciplinary analysis of the conditions for establishing an effective mutual conversation space for involved stakeholders, and how the development of socio-technological systems affects cognitive and behavioural aspects such as established communities of practice and virtual pockets of local order. Our observations thus far suggest that some of the key issues are overcoming organisational and cultural heterogeneity, and finding solutions for technical interoperability, to ensure effective, pervasive and sustainable information exchange within and between organisations participating in hastily formed networks.

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to provide and recommend a strategic approach for implementation of information sharing initiatives. While such an approach offers a number of benefits, as a primary benefit, it provides a way to measure and monitor the performance of such initiatives, irrespective of their scope, whether they are regional, state, or federal efforts. The first section of the paper presents a framework for alignment among information sharing initiatives; the second section builds on this framework and outlines a roadmap for an assessment methodology for such initiatives.

Abstract: In the field of information systems for disaster management there is a large variety of data formats, specifications and standards. Most of these standards only cover a specific part of this area, for example formats for geospatial data or message exchange. This diversity of isolated solutions, however, prevents those systems from interacting and exchanging data. To improve the interoperability in this sector there is a strong need for an integrated interoperable system architecture that is suitable for stand-alone systems as well as for the communication in a distributed heterogeneous system environment. This paper shows an approach for such a system architecture. It presents the Disaster Management Markup Language (DMML), which provides an architecture of data structures, services and service interfaces for crisis response systems. Furthermore, the Disaster Management Interoperability Framework (DMIF) is introduced, which supplies a software-engineering layout for DMML. Finally, the implementation of the DMMapML module is presented, which handles data involved in the situation report. The basic structure of this implementation is described and its potential contribution to the interoperability of crisis response systems.

Abstract: A wide range of local, regional, and federal authorities will generate maps to help respond to and recover from a disaster. It is essential that map users in an emergency situation can readily understand what they are seeing on these maps. Standardizing map symbology is one mechanism for ensuring that geospatial information is interpretable during an emergency situation, but creating an effective map symbol standard is a complex and evolving task. Here we present preliminary results from research into the application of the ANSI 415-2006 INCITS Homeland Security Map Symbol Standard, a point symbol standard intended to support emergency management mapping for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This standard has so far not been widely adopted across the full range of DHS missions, and we elaborate on key issues and challenges that should be accounted for when developing future map symbol standards for crisis management.

Abstract: This article aims at presenting a whole approach of Information Systems interoperability management in a crisis management cell. We propose a Mediation Information System (MIS) to help the crisis cell partners to design, run and manage the workflows of the response to a crisis situation. The architecture of the MIS meets the need of low coupling between the partners' Information System components and the need of agility for a such platform. Based on the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and the Event Driven Architecture (EDA) principles which, combined to the Complex Event Processing (CEP) principles, it will leads to an easier orchestration, choreography and real-time monitoring of the workflows' activities, and even allows the automated agility of the crisis response on-the-fly-we consider agility as the ability of the processes to remain consistent with the response to the crisis-. © 2012 ISCRAM.

Abstract: An emergency brings together a group of individuals who often represent different organizations, resources, and roles. In order to be able to make the right decisions, individuals need to understand each other although they may be from different lines of business. In our research the target is to stress the importance of a common language in emergency management. Our plan is to gather a group representing the authorities, i.e. public sector actors, and a group representing companies, i.e. private sector actors, to communicate with the Delphi method on possible differences in the language used in different lines of business. The aim of this paper is to discuss the possibilities of using the Delphi method to make improvements to emergency management and to evaluate which kinds of organizations should be represented in our Delphi panel. This paper forms a part of a larger research study, the results of which will be useful, for example when improving the interoperability of management and communications systems. © 2012 ISCRAM.

Abstract: In public transport and at large urban hubs, such as metro or train stations, transport operators and first responders collaborate in the prevention of and reaction to security issues. Within the EU demonstration project SECUR-ED a specific notation for interoperability of information systems in the domain of public transport security was developed. (In this context, the interoperability of actual operating systems is not the focus.) Based on UML (Unified Modelling Language), the notation language offers the possibility for structured modelling of system-of-systems architectures. Four interoperability object templates and their interdependencies form the underlying basis. Domain-specific annotation rules and guidelines for interoperability objects and their sub-component structures allow collaboration and interpretation of this model on various granularities and stages during a systems engineering process. © 2012 ISCRAM.