Ronja Addams-Moring. (2007). Tsunami self-evacuation of a group of western travelers and resulting requirements for multi-hazard early warning. In K. Nieuwenhuis P. B. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Intelligent Human Computer Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM 2007 Academic Proceedings Papers (pp. 83–92). Delft: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: This paper describes the experiences of a West-European project group in Sri Lanka in March 2005, during a tsunami threat. They had previous disaster related knowledge and used both local guidance, global media and contacts back home, but could not get adequate information about how much time they had, how likely a tsunami was, or which countries had ordered evacuations. Their decision to evacuate was based on their own reasoning and influenced most by one trusted local resident. Their mobile phone communication with their relations in Europe created a de facto ad hoc mobile emergency announcement (MEA) system. Their decision to return relied heavily on the ad hoc MEA text messages, as local authorities had not yet issued an all-clear. The findings underline the importance of multiple early warning languages and delivery channels and suggest that when relevant, 'event onset time' should be explicit in early warning.
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Stephen C. Fortier, & Ioannis M. Dokas. (2008). Setting the specification framework of an Early Warning System using IDEF0 and information modeling. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 441–450). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Our goal is to develop an Early Warning System for an engineering system with a special interest in applying this to a material recovery facility. This on-going research points out that there is no clear definition of what Early Warning Systems are. A literature search for Early Warning Systems identifies hundred of thousands hits (Buchanan-Smith, 1999; Davies, Buchanan-Smith, Lambert, 1991). Almost all of the references had to do with financial systems for third world countries, tracking the destructive nature of violent conflicts that led to human suffering, or systems for syndromic surveillance. The goal of our research, and of this paper, is to define a framework for creating a specification that can be considered as the basis for the development of any Early Warning System-specifically for engineering systems. Therefore, we will describe Early Warning Systems and its requirements and specifications. Based on specification patterns, we have developed an abstract model of an Early Warning System; and developed an IDEF0 model of a material recovery facility that provides the framework for specifying an Early Warning System. The Early Warning System is then specified using information modeling.
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Syed Imran, Franclin Foping, Ioannis M. Dokas, & John Feehan. (2010). Towards domain specific modeling approach in early warning system. 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: It is of practical significance and great value to design and develop a novel Early Warning System (EWS), which will be used by the personnel of institutions involved in the drinking water delivery governance model of Ireland. In order to help the users of our EWS in representing and codifying their knowledge on the complex coincidences that may drive Water Treatment Plants (WTP) to failures or to hazardous states we propose in this paper a novel approach of using Domain Specific Modeling (DSM) in the domain of EWS for Water Treatment Plants. The novelty of our DSM approach also lies in providing a standalone open source software application rendering profiling of the water utilities, early warning signals, monitoring mechanisms of signals along with capability of assessing the “tendency” of a WTP towards failure, given a set of observed early warning signals.
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Murray E. Jennex. (2005). Informal early warning systems, the utility Y2K experience. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2005 – 2nd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 287–289). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: The 2004 tsunami has generated a call for a global early warning system. Political issues may prevent this from occurring soon or at all. This paper explores previous experience with informal early warning systems from the Year 2000, Y2K, rollover. Informal early warning systems, IEWS, are cooperative systems formed outside of direct government control, usually from nonprofit or industry organizations. The two discussed utility Y2K IEWS were formed through an industry group and within a single multinational corporation. The paper concludes with lessons learned from the design and implementation of these systems.
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Jaana Kuula, Pauli Kettunen, Vili Auvinen, Santtu Viitanen, Olli Kauppinen, & Tuomo Korhonen. (2013). Smartphones as an alerting, command and control system for the preparedness groups and civilians: Results of preliminary tests with the finnish police. In J. Geldermann and T. Müller S. Fortier F. F. T. Comes (Ed.), ISCRAM 2013 Conference Proceedings – 10th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 42–51). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: Traditional mobile phones have been used for alerting purposes by utilizing their SMS and cell broadcasting features. They do however not suit for demanding alerting and command purposes, for the observation of special forces, rescue officers and civilians, or for the post-evaluation of the operation. Current 3G and 4G/LTE smartphones can do all this, but the empirical evidence is missing. This article reports of the preliminary tests which the University of Jyväskylä has made with the Finnish Police for alerting civilians and for commanding two special groups of the police with smartphones. Smartphones were also used for observing police officers' position and status and for post-evaluating action during and after the operation. The study supports using smartphones for alerting, command and control purposes. Because of external distractions alerts are noticed better at night than in the daytime. In active hours personal alerts should be given not only by a voice alarm but by stimulating 2-3 senses at the same time. Noticing of smartphone alerts might be improved also by using some additional reception device with the handset.
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Robert Lawatscheck, Stephan Düsterwald, Carsten Wirth, & Torsten Schröder. (2012). ALARM: A modular IT solution to support and evaluate mass casualty incident (MCI) management. In Z.Franco J. R. L. Rothkrantz (Ed.), ISCRAM 2012 Conference Proceedings – 9th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management. Vancouver, BC: Simon Fraser University.
Abstract: ALARM is a modular IT-solution to support emergency medical service (EMS) providers and rescue staff in mass casualty incident response and training. Seven modules were implemented, covering the entire process from preliminary triage, treatment support and resource management to tactical information and registration. Communication technology is used to close information and documentation gaps. The system uses medical algorithms and telemedicine to improve patient treatment. The ALARM system generates logs automatically including procedural time stamps and outcome factors such as triage and transport categories. This allows an objective analysis and comparison of missions and opens a new approach to evidence based MCI management and training. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Matthias Lendholt, & Martin Hammitzsch. (2011). Generic information logistics for early warning systems. In E. Portela L. S. M.A. Santos (Ed.), 8th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: From Early-Warning Systems to Preparedness and Training, ISCRAM 2011. Lisbon: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: The delivery of user-tailored warning messages for heterogeneous user groups is a challenge rarely covered by hazard monitoring and early warning systems. While attention is mostly focused on sensor measurements and disaster prediction, warning message dissemination is often based on technical terminology and is not appropriate for the majority of interested user groups. This article describes the concepts of generic information logistics developed for the distant early warning system (DEWS). It is designed to not be limited to specific hazard types, languages or other deployment specifics. Instead, it enables the generation of user-tailored warning messages that account for specific needs and it provides several filter mechanisms to avoid unintended message flooding in emergency situations. Moreover, the importance of spatial references in messages is highlighted and accounted for in both automatic message processing and message reception by humans. Warning messages are based on the common alerting protocol (CAP) to allow interoperability with other early warning systems.
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Maurice McGinley, Andrew Turk, & David Bennett. (2006). Design criteria for public emergency warning systems. In M. T. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2006 – 3rd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 154–163). Newark, NJ: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: This paper describes the development of a public emergency messaging system in Western Australia. A set of design criteria were identified by a review of relevant published literature, a survey of current practice in Australia, and consultation with local stakeholders. The system should support: Multiple Recipients, Multiple Channels, Multiple Hazards, Multiple Stakeholders, Multiple Senders, Multiple Platforms, and Write Once Message Composition. A prototype system was built according to these design criteria, based on the Common Alerting Protocol version 1.0. The design was validated in trials simulating messages sent during a tropical cyclone and a bushfire. A total of 56 trial participants from identified stakeholder groups were surveyed with regard to their experience of the prototype system. Overall, the prototype system functioned successfully and participants reported high levels of satisfaction. The paper describes this research project and the initial stages of the subsequent development of a production system, called APECS.
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Jürgen Moßgraber, Fernando Chaves, Stuart E. Middleton, Zlatko Zlatev, & Ran Tao. (2013). The seven main challenges of an early warning system architecture. In J. Geldermann and T. Müller S. Fortier F. F. T. Comes (Ed.), ISCRAM 2013 Conference Proceedings – 10th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 322–331). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: In this paper, we describe the work on the system architecture that is being developed in the EU FP7 project TRIDEC on “Collaborative, Complex and Critical Decision-Support in Evolving Crises”. One of the two decision support use cases in the project deals with Tsunami Early Warning. A modern warning system that follows a system-of-systems approach has to integrate various components and subsystems such as different information sources, services and simulation systems. Furthermore, it has to take into account the distributed and collaborative nature of warning systems. Working on the architecture of such a system, you need to deal with a lot of current computer science and information technology problems as well as state-of-the-art solutions from the areas of Big Data and Human Sensors. In this paper, we present the seven main challenges we needed to solve and describe the necessary design decisions we made to tackle them.
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Paola Pagliara, Angela Corina, Alessandro Burastero, Paolo Campanella, Luca Ferraris, Marina Morando, et al. (2011). Dewetra, coping with emergencies. In E. Portela L. S. M.A. Santos (Ed.), 8th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: From Early-Warning Systems to Preparedness and Training, ISCRAM 2011. Lisbon: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Dealing with multi-risk assessment needs reliable forecasting and warning systems able both to rapidly make available observational data and to make accessible forecast tools to the Decision Makers. In this paper we present Dewetra, a real-time integrated system for risk forecasting, monitoring and prevention. We provide a description of its features and examples of its operational use at the Italian Prime Minister Office – National Department for Civil Protection- Centro Funzionale Centrale. In particular is presented its application to flood risk management and to wild fire risk management.
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Douglas C. Pattie, & Stefanie Dannenmann. (2008). Evaluation and strengthening of early warning systems in countries affected by the 26 December 2004 Tsunami. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 415–423). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: The objective of this international initiative was to provide an integrated framework for strengthening early warning systems in the Indian Ocean region by building on existing systems and facilitating coordination among specialized and technical institutions. The project supported the development of tsunami early warning systems in collaboration with numerous United Nations and other organizations devoted to disaster risk management and risk reduction. For the practitioner of early warning systems, the project has been divided into two areas-warning system development and preparedness. As a cross-cutting theme, the project promoted multi-hazard end-to-end systems in a regional context by emphasizing (i) risk knowledge, (ii) monitoring and warning service, (iii) communications and dissemination of understandable warnings and (iv) response capability and preparedness. The activities of the project were structured into five components-system implementation, integrated risk management, public awareness and education, community-level approaches and project coordination. Practitioners should note that the work represents a first step for establishing a complete tsunami early warning system within a multi-hazard framework.
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João A. Santos, Sara Rodrigues, Neves, Ana Vieira, Conceiçao J. Fortes, Maria Teresa Reis, et al. (2011). MOIA: An integrated decision support tool for port management. In E. Portela L. S. M.A. Santos (Ed.), 8th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: From Early-Warning Systems to Preparedness and Training, ISCRAM 2011. Lisbon: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: This paper describes MOIA, a numerical tool that evaluates sea-wave effects on port operations and broadcasts warning messages whenever the safety of such operations are deemed to be at risk. The evaluation of the sea-wave transformation from offshore – where the results of numerical models for sea-wave forecast at a regional level are available – up to the port area is described. Also, the procedures used to evaluate the sea-wave effects on sailing ships, focusing on the amplitude of the vertical movements of a selected point in the ship, are explained. Such procedures are combined and applied to an example where the average downtime for the navigation at four points along the sailing lane is evaluated for the entrance voyages into the port of Praia da Vitória (Azores) of a given ship.
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Krispijn Scholte, & Leon J.M. Rothkrantz. (2014). Personal warning system for vessels under bad weather conditions. In and P.C. Shih. L. Plotnick M. S. P. S.R. Hiltz (Ed.), ISCRAM 2014 Conference Proceedings – 11th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 359–368). University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University.
Abstract: Many services provide weather forecasts, including severe weather alerts for the marine. It proves that many ships neglect the warnings because they expect to be able to handle the bad weather conditions. In order to identify possible unsafe situations the Coast Guard needs to observe marine vessel traffic 24 hours, 7 days a week. In this paper we propose a system that is able to support the Coast Guard. Ships can be localized and tracked individually using the Automatic Identification System (AIS). We present a system which is able to send a personal alert to ships expected to be in danger now or the near future. Ships will be monitored in the dangerous hours and routed to safe areas in the shortest time. The system is based on AIS data, probabilistic reasoning and expertise from the Coast Guard. A first prototype will be presented for open waters around the Netherlands.
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Andrea H. Tapia, Nicolas LaLone, Elizabeth MacDonald, Reid Priedhorsky, & Hall Hall. (2014). Crowdsourcing rare events: Using curiosity to draw participants into science and early warning systems. In and P.C. Shih. L. Plotnick M. S. P. S.R. Hiltz (Ed.), ISCRAM 2014 Conference Proceedings – 11th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 135–144). University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University.
Abstract: This research presents a centralized boundary object website and mobile app focused on allowing participants to participate in developing an early warning system through space weather and the beauty of the aurora borealis. Because of the beauty and majesty of auroral activity, people will seek information about when and where these unpredictable events occur. This activity, commonly referred to as nowcasting, can be combined with scientific data collected from observatories and satellites and serve as an early warning system with potentially far greater accuracy and timeliness than the current state of the art. We believe that long-term engagement with a citizen science tool will help bridge the many social worlds surrounding the aurora borealis and lead to the development of an early warning system that may correlate the visibility of the northern lights to violent space weather. We hope this will lead to other real time crowdsourced early warning systems in the future.
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Ana Rosa Trancoso, José Delgado Domingos, Maria João Telhado, & João Corte-Real. (2011). Early warning system for meteorological risk in Lisbon municipality: Description and quality evaluation. In E. Portela L. S. M.A. Santos (Ed.), 8th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: From Early-Warning Systems to Preparedness and Training, ISCRAM 2011. Lisbon: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: The current work describes and evaluates an early warning system for meteorological risk in Lisbon that has been functioning in SMPC since February 2008. The system aims to integrate multiple sources of information and facilitate cross checking observations, forecasts and warnings, allowing for an efficient and timely evaluation of the alert level to issue. Currently, it comprises hourly weather and tide level forecasts and automated warnings for Lisbon city, given by MM5 and WRF models running at IST. Results show MM5 performing better than WRF except for warm weather. The overall skill of the warning system is 40% with some false alarm ratios, mainly for forecasts with more than 3 days in advance. This is a reasonable characteristic for early warning since a potentially problematic situation can be anticipated and checked avoiding unnecessary economic expenditures if the warnings do not persist.
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Ying Zhao, Mengqi Yuan, Guofeng Su, & Tao Chen. (2015). Crowd Security Detection based on Entropy Model. 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: Identifying the terror attack, illegal public gathering or other mass events risks by utilizing cameras is an important concern both in crowd security area and in pattern recognition research area. This paper provides a physical entropy model to measure the crowd security level.The entropy model was created by identifying individuals?moving velocity and the related probability. The individuals are represented by Harris Corners in videos, thus to avoid the time-consuming human recognition task. Simulation experiment and video detection experiments were conducted, verified that in the disordered state, the entropy is higher; while in ordered state, the entropy is much lower; when the crowd security has a sudden change, the entropy will change. It was verified that the entropy is the applicable indicator of crowd security. By recognizing the entropy mutation, it is possible to automatically detect the abnormal crowd behavior and to set the warning alarm.
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