Briony Gray, & Matthew Colling. (2021). Understanding Interoperability in Humanitarian Aid Organizations. In Anouck Adrot, Rob Grace, Kathleen Moore, & Christopher W. Zobel (Eds.), ISCRAM 2021 Conference Proceedings – 18th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 439–447). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: Quality and timely knowledge is critical to effective humanitarian operations during crises. Despite this, there remain limitations to its capture, exchange and understanding both in the inter and intra agency settings. To improve this, methods like interoperability should be improved within humanitarian aid organizations and their wider networks. Learning from the experiences and insights of domestic and international delegates of the Canadian Red Cross, this paper highlights that the biggest added values of interoperability to the intra-agency setting are (i.) increasing organizational capacity, expertise and reputation, (ii.) better tools, processes and leveraging valuable knowledge, and (iii.) improved engagement of volunteers, employees and delegates. The most prevalent barriers are (i.) workplace culture, (ii.) differences in operations, context and communications and (iii.) the socio-technical barriers of systems, processes and integration. The paper concludes by presenting lessons for humanitarian organizations to improve interoperability, supporting resilient responses for future crisis management.
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Tom De Groeve, Zsofia Kugler, & G. Robert Brakenridge. (2007). Near real time flood alerting for the global disaster alert and coordination system. 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. 33–39). Delft: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: A new flood monitoring module is in development for the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS). GDACS is an information system designed to assist humanitarian responders with their decisions in the early onset after a disaster. It provides near-real time flood alerts with an initial estimate of the consequences based on computer models. Subsequently, the system gathers information in an automated way from relevant information sources such as international media, mapping and scientific organizations. The novel flood detection methodology is based on daily AMSR-E passive microwave measurement of 2500 flood prone sites on 1435 rivers in 132 countries. Alert thresholds are determined from the time series of the remote observations and these are validated using available flood archives (from 2002 to present). Preliminary results indicate a match of 47% between detected floods and flood archives. Individual tuning of thresholds per site should improve this result.
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Nicolas Di Tada, & Timothy Large. (2010). Emergency information 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: This paper describes an information system designed to be deployed in emergencies caused by sudden onset natural disasters. The aim is to streamline the communication flow and collaboration between media, aid workers and government agencies with the affected population, to help the latter get verified, accurate and actionable information that will enable them to make decisions and recover from the disaster. The Emergency Information Service (EIS) system also provides means for affected population and field workers to channel vital data back up into aid response. This tool is part of a free information service run by Thomson Reuters Foundation to help survivors of natural disasters. It will serve the affected populations, local media and relief responders by providing fast, practical and verified information in local languages through the best means available.
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Shelly Farnham, Elin R. Pedersen, & Robert Kirkpatrick. (2006). Observation of katrina/rita groove deployment: Addressing social and communication challenges of ephemeral groups. In M. T. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2006 – 3rd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 39–49). Newark, NJ: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: In order to better understand the challenges specific to the deployment of collaboration technologies in crisis situations, we conducted an informal observational study of the deployment of Groove Virtual Office to various civil and military groups at the heart of the disaster zone over the course of ten days. We summarize both general lessons learned from observations of social and communication challenges in crisis situations that impact technology adoption, and make specific recommendations for improving the deployment process of Groove to enable cross group collaboration. We generally found that dynamic, informal social networks and lightweight ephemeral work groups were essential social structures in the relief effort, and we discuss the need to innovate technologies to support these alternative types of organizations. We encourage that current technology centric innovation for ephemeral workgroups is complemented by a usage centric approach to help address emergent behaviors and opportunities.
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Hanne Haaland, Hege Wallevik, Erika Frydenlund, & Jose J. Padilla. (2020). Modelers and Ethnographers as Co-Creators of Knowledge: Do We Belong Together? 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. 1113–1121). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: In this paper, we explore the process of co-creation of knowledge between modelers and ethnographers through a project focusing on the role played by CIGS (Citizen initiatives for global solidarity) in the refugee crisis in the island of Lesvos, Greece. We describe the process of collaboration and discuss what this type of interdisciplinary collaboration may bring to the development of a research topic when the initial skepticism and questions of epistemological differences have been overcome. Moreover, we address some of the challenges embedded in this type of research collaboration, particularly the skepticism present within the social sciences.
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Philipp Schwarz, Yan Wang, Stephan Lukosch, & Heide Lukosch. (2017). Policy Gaming for Humanitarian Missions. 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. 814–823). Albi, France: Iscram.
Abstract: Aid workers increasingly face risks when working in crisis regions. In order to improve effectiveness and safety of humanitarians, it is of great importance to provide a well thought out real-time socio-technical support. Thus, new policies and innovative technological solutions need to be developed and integrated into humanitarian workflows. For the requirements elicitation process to realize this aspiration, we employ a board game approach that confronts players with situations aid workers experience in the field. From the first game session, we learned that the game is a valuable tool. It raises awareness to important challenges and trade-offs that humanitarians face. In addition, it is an effective catalyst for initiating a discussion on which system requirements are needed. Future work will include an update of the board game as well as sessions with the target group of practitioners to inform the development of a socio-technical system for humanitarian aid work.
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Rachel L. Finn, Hayley Watson, & Kush Wadhwa. (2015). Exploring big ?crisis? data in action: potential positive and negative externalities. 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: As growing emphasis is placed on engaging with big ?crisis? data, including data from social media, GPS, and satellite, adequate policies and measures must be in place in order to use this data in an ethically and legally responsible manner. The current working paper introduces the BYTE study, which is working towards identifying and understanding the various positive and negative externalities, or impacts, associated with the use of big ?crisis? data. This insight paper provides a preliminary discussion of various externalities that may be encountered in this study. By doing so, the authors highlight the need for additional research in this area to promote ethically and legally responsible crisis data practices.
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Vitaveska Lanfranchi, Nadia Noori, & Tudor Sirbu. (2018). GPS-based solution for tracking and protecting humanitarians in conflict zones. In Kees Boersma, & Brian Tomaszeski (Eds.), ISCRAM 2018 Conference Proceedings – 15th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 334–349). Rochester, NY (USA): Rochester Institute of Technology.
Abstract: The operational environment in which humanitarians operate is unstable and high-risk; when operating in such environments, time becomes a critical factor. Thus, real-time location systems (RTLS) are often deployed in the operational environment to provide awareness of the location of personnel and assets in real-time that would support an informed decision making in the event of responding to emergency. Whilst standard RTLS are very precise, they are not suitable to outdoor spaces; GPS position technology can be used to identify the location of objects and people and to track them. In this paper, first, we present a description of threat scenarios identified based on information from existing security incidents datasets and from interviews with aid workers and security professionals operating in high-risk regions. Second, we describe the implementation of a GPS-based real-time location tracking and alert system for humanitarians operating in conflict zones that supports the identified scenarios.
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