|
Steve Peterson. (2016). More Research Needed on the Concurrent Usage of Information Systems during Emergencies. 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: This abstract highlights research challenges to improving effectiveness of integrating information and communication technologies during emergencies. Proposed as a research focus is the integration of proven virtual activation processes with an unobtrusive research presence. This positions the research presence during a real-time emergency to glean previously unknown information/rationales on how decision-makers decide and take action. Establishing a collaborative partnership by combining a ?research presence? with the ?virtual operation capability,? is essential. Mutual understanding must embrace the precept of no disruption to first responders in actual response and recovery efforts. Consensus should be reached in identifying measurable outcomes for the research. The collaborative effort opens a groundbreaking area for consideration of study in crisis response and management. It would shed new light on an underexplored, critical area of emergency management and has the potential to further enhance the value of information and communication systems in preparing, responding, and recovering from emergencies.
|
|
|
Steve Peterson, & Denis Gusty. (2018). Incorporating Digital Volunteers into Exercises: A Case Study on CAUSE V. In Kees Boersma, & Brian Tomaszeski (Eds.), ISCRAM 2018 Conference Proceedings – 15th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 1126–1129). Rochester, NY (USA): Rochester Institute of Technology.
Abstract: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Canada Department of National Defence's Centre for Security Science conducted its fifth Canada-U.S. Enhanced Resiliency Experiment (CAUSE V) on November 15 – 16, 2017 along the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the state of Washington. The experiment tested emerging technologies to promote more effective communication and information sharing for emergency management officials and first responder agencies on both sides of the border in response to a Mt. Baker volcanic eruption and lahar mudflow scenario. The CAUSE V experiment explored the use of trained digital volunteers to provide operational and public information support to emergency management professionals. These digital volunteers were assigned to monitor simulated social media platforms, identifying information according to pre-assigned mission assignments, including misinformation and rumor control, and reporting this information to emergency management officials and first responder agencies. Researchers from the University of Washington were in attendance to specifically observe the efforts of the digital volunteers during the experiment. Research observations, and the benefits of integrating the research and practitioner communities, will be highlighted on the poster.
|
|
|
Steve Peterson, Chris Thompson, & Cat Graham. (2018). Getting Disaster Data Right: A Call for Real-time Research in Disaster Response. In Kees Boersma, & Brian Tomaszeski (Eds.), ISCRAM 2018 Conference Proceedings – 15th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 851–859). Rochester, NY (USA): Rochester Institute of Technology.
Abstract: In the response phase of disasters, minimal research has been conducted on the near real-time operational usage of social media. Research findings during this phase could provide evidence to the emergency management community that social media content can be retrieved, verified, and ultimately utilized in decision-making. This paper discusses potential strategies for conducting future research in near real-time during disasters to gain insightful knowledge rarely captured. Following the April 25, 2015, magnitude 7.8 Nepal earthquake, a team of 20 digital volunteers were virtually activated for 48 hours to extract medical-related information from multiple social media platforms and Internet sources. This practitioner insight paper examines methods applied to filter, classify, analyze, verify, and distribute the medical-related information in a timely manner. Association of past research studies are applied to the digital volunteer's experience within a case study framework, calling attention to the feasibility of digital volunteers as an information source in future research.
|
|
|
Veronika Zettl, Thomas Ludwig, Christoph Kotthaus, & Sascha Skudelny. (2017). Embedding Unaffiliated Volunteers in Crisis Management Systems: Deploying and Supporting the Concept of Intermediary Organizations. 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. 421–431). Albi, France: Iscram.
Abstract: Citizens engaging in crisis management spontaneously and without affiliation to an (honorary) aid organization are a social phenomenon on the rise. Even though public engagement is desirable, it receives mixed reactions by crisis management experts. They claim that “the crowd” has to be managed to ensure a successful crisis response and recovery, leading to high coordination efforts which cannot be achieved by the authorities. To understand the obstacles in cooperation and to overcome them better, this study examines existing patterns of cooperation. The study employed in-depth interviews (n=13) in two use cases (flooding, n=4; migrant crisis, n=9) with public authorities, aid organizations and engaged citizens. Results indicate that collaboration works successfully when an intermediary organization bridges the coordination gap between authorities and the public. In addition to the concept of intermediary organizations, two ICT approaches supporting collaboration in crisis events are described: Public Displays and the so-called 'Security Arena'.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Øyvind Hanssen. (2015). Position Tracking in Voluntary Search and Rescue Operations. 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: This paper describes how enthusiasts from the radio-amateur and red-cross communities developed and applied position tracking to search and rescue services in Norway. This was based on the APRS standard which has been used by radio-amateurs for some time.
The document describes how radio-amateurs designed a tracking device which was robust and simple to use along with a web-based online service, a map server, to display positions along with other geographical information on electronic maps. The software for the tracker and the map server is free and open source. This system has been used in a number of search and rescue missions in Norway since 2009, to support decisions making in the command and control centre.
|
|