Martin Frassl, Michael Lichtenstern, Mohammed Khider, & Michael Angermann. (2010). Developing a system for information management in disaster relief – Methodology and requirements. In C. Zobel B. T. S. French (Ed.), ISCRAM 2010 – 7th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: Defining Crisis Management 3.0, Proceedings. Seattle, WA: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
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.
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Anthony C. Robinson, Robert E. Roth, & Alan M. MacEachren. (2010). Challenges for map symbol standardization in crisis management. In C. Zobel B. T. S. French (Ed.), ISCRAM 2010 – 7th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: Defining Crisis Management 3.0, Proceedings. Seattle, WA: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
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.
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Rego Granlund, Helena Granlund, Nilda Dahlbäck, & Björn J.E. Johansson. (2010). The effect of a geographical information system on communication in professional emergency response organizations. In C. Zobel B. T. S. French (Ed.), ISCRAM 2010 – 7th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: Defining Crisis Management 3.0, Proceedings. Seattle, WA: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: This paper describes the basic communication analysis performed in a research project with an ambition to investigate the impact of geographical information system (GIS) on crisis management organizations. The goal is to compare the communication between command and control teams that have access to a GIS with geographical position information (GPS) capability in its command post with teams that only have access to paper maps. The method used is controlled experiments using the C3Fire micro-world. A total of 108 professionals, forming 18 teams, participated in the study. The participating professionals were members of Swedish municipal crisis management organizations. The result shows that the communication pattern connected to giving orders have a different distribution depending on if the teams used GIS or paper maps. The result also shows that the communication volume is reduced if the teams use GIS.
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Shubham Gupta, & Craig A. Knoblock. (2010). Building geospatial mashups to visualize information for crisis management. In C. Zobel B. T. S. French (Ed.), ISCRAM 2010 – 7th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: Defining Crisis Management 3.0, Proceedings. Seattle, WA: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: In time-sensitive environments such as disaster management, decision-making often requires rapidly gathering the information from diverse data sources and then visualizing the collected information to understand it. Thus, it is critical to reduce the overhead in data integration and visualization for efficient decision-making. Geospatial mashups can be an effective solution in such environments by providing an integrated approach to extract, integrate and view diverse information. Currently, mashup building tools exist for creating mashups, but none of them deal with the issue of data visualization. An improper visualization of the data could result in users wasting precious time to understand the data. In this paper, we introduce a programming-by-demonstration approach to data visualization in geospatial mashups that allows the users to customize the data visualization.
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Benjamin Schooley, Brian Hilton, Yoonmi Lee, Rondalynne McClintock, Samuel-Ojo Olusola, & Thomas Horan. (2010). CrashHelp: A GIS tool for managing emergency medical responses to motor vehicle crashes. In C. Zobel B. T. S. French (Ed.), ISCRAM 2010 – 7th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: Defining Crisis Management 3.0, Proceedings. Seattle, WA: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: This paper presents the research, design, and development of a comprehensive trauma information system inclusive of 911dispatch, Emergency Medical Services, and hospital trauma information. A proof-of-concept GIS based information system was designed and developed for use by trauma and emergency medical practitioners. Methods used include end-user focus group discussions, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and an iterative system development process. A framework from prior research was utilized; a framework that considers the visualization of emergency medical events across an end-to-end continuum of patient care. Analyses performed provided a multi-layered understanding of the practical and theoretical implications of using an end-to-end information schema for emergency response and trauma health systems.
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