Abstract: Crisis management (CM) organizations regularly face the challenge to assess the potential impact of a change in their socio-technical setup. No matter if a new software, a new tool, a simple workflow or a broader organizational structure become available, CM organizations need to estimate the potential added value under a high degree of uncertainty. In general, the more reliable information about the new solution is available, the more informed the decisions are. One promising way in assessing the potential impact of new CM solutions can be found through its application in an as realistic as possible and an as secure as necessary setup. However, such artificial scenarios like simulation exercises hold the risk of measuring the performance of the solution itself rather than its contribution to the CM operation. In this paper we review the state of the art in measuring crisis management performance, discuss the results in the context of performance measurement in general and present a performance measurement approach supporting a structured assessment of innovative CM solutions applied within collaborative demonstration project.

Abstract: The proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (i.e., drones) can provide great value to the future of search and rescue. However, with the increase adoption of such systems, issues around hybrid human-drone team coordination and planning will arise. To address these early challenges, we provide insights into the development of testbeds in the form of mixed reality games with simulated drones. This research presents an architecture to address challenges and opportunities in using drones for search and rescue. On this architecture, we develop a mixed reality game in which human players engage with the physical world and with gameplay that is purely virtual. We expect the architecture to be useful to a range of researchers an practitioners, forming the basis for investigating and training within this unique, new domain.

Abstract: Practice and research collaborations in the disaster domain have the potential to improve emergency management practices while also advancing disaster science theory. However, they also pose challenges as practitioners and researchers each have their own culture, history, values, incentives, and processes that do not always facilitate collaboration. In this paper, we reflect on a 6-month practice and research collaboration, where researchers and practitioners worked together to craft a social media monitoring system for emergency managers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges we encountered in this project fall into two broad categories, job-related and timescale challenges. Using prior research on team science as a guide, we discuss several challenges we encountered in these two categories and show how our team sought to overcome them. We conclude with a set of best practices for improving practice and research collaborations.

Abstract: In search and rescue scenarios local information on victims and other finds needs to be disseminated rapidly to other rescue workers and team leaders. However, post disaster scenarios may imply the collapse of information infrastructure including cellular communication and Internet connectivity. Even if we consider wireless ad hoc communication as a means of information dissemination we should count on frequent loss of connectivity in the network due to unpredictable mobility and sparse network topologies. In this paper we present the realization of an existing manycast protocol (random walk gossip) on commodity handheld devices running the Android platform. This communication mode is used to demonstrate the potential for distributed information dissemination on victims and finds. The application layer is an adaptation of an existing surveying information tool (POSIT) which is now fully decentralized and relies on text communication to achieve energy efficiency.

Abstract: This paper is about the introduction of netcentric work in the public safety sector in the Netherlands. The idea behind netcentric work is that a common operational picture will help the professionals to overcome problems with sharing information during crisis. In this WIP paper we will pay attention to netcentric work principles and the dilemma of standardization of technologies versus local adaptation. In the Netherlands the government has chosen to introduce netcentric work via a Platform in which various options are discussed among members of Dutch safety regions. The outcome is a process of negotiation in what we call trading zones. In these trading zones netcentric work is (re)defined. Using theoretical concepts like soft-bureaucracy we show in this paper how netcentric work eventually is not about technology in the first place but a negotiated new way of working and organizing. Further research is needed to understand the full implications of netcentric work for the administration and organization of safety.

Abstract: We explore the nature and benefits of smart spaces from the perspective of the emergency management user, propose a design vocabulary and reference architecture for constructing feasible, robust and flexible smart spaces for crisis management, and offer some examples of how smart-space approaches might support crisis management. © 2012 ISCRAM.

Abstract: The proliferation of natural and artificial disasters in the last decades has made urban resilience enforcement a strategic goal of city governments worldwide and a hot research topic for academics and practitioners. Consequently, several urban resilience assessment and improvement frameworks have been proposed. Some frameworks have associated operational tools, but these systems are not interoperable with other frameworks' utilities, forcing cities to use different tools for evaluating various aspects of resilience. Since data must be converted manually from one tool to another, the conversion may be error-prone and tedious. In this paper, we report the steps toward defining an urban resilience metamodel that intends to be at the core of a multi-framework urban resilience management portal. Our goal is to provide city administrators with a single operational tool able to evaluate resilience according to different frameworks, thanks to the definition of semantic interoperability mechanisms between the frameworks and the metamodel

Abstract: Efficient request and deployment of critical resources for urban search and rescue operations is vital to emergency response. This paper presents a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) supported system for on-site data collection to communicate structural condition, to track search and rescue status, and to request and allocate appropriate resources. The system provides a unified interface for efficient posing, gathering, storing and sharing of building assessment information. Visualization and easy access of such information enables rescuers to response to the disaster with better situational awareness. Resource requests are sent to the GIS resource repository service that enables a visual disaster management environment for resource allocation. Request and deployment of critical resources through this system enables lifesaving efforts, with the appropriate equipment, operator, and materials, become more efficient and effective. System development at the Illinois Fire Service Institute has shown promising results.

Abstract: Critical energy infrastructures are more and more focused upon by politics and society. Modern society depends on these structures, since they enable the steady support of electricity and other types of energy. Deliberately precipitated hazards of certain critical parts of electrical transmission systems (ETS) can lead to catastrophic consequences. Therefore, the analysis of feasible security hazards and resulting consequences for the operation of transmission systems are a concern to transmission system operators (TSO). Alas, there is no common method available that comprehensively identifies these feasible security related scenarios and classifies them according to their overall criticality for the safe operation of the ETS. To tackle this challenge, we propose a comprehensive, yet easy-to-apply method to systematically identify and assess the criticality of security threat scenarios. It is conducted in four steps and consists of a matrix based consistency check of threat scenarios in a defined solution space and a convenient semi-quantitative assessment of a risk factor for the ETS. The approach is illustrated by the simplified generic example of an EETS.

Abstract: In the aftermath of disasters, information is of the essence for humanitarian decision makers in the field. Their concrete information needs is highly context-influenced and often they find themselves unable to access the right information at the right time. We propose a novel ICT-based approach to address these information needs more accurately. First, we select a group of in-field decision makers and collect their concrete information needs in the disaster aftermath. We then review to what extent existing data and tools can already address these needs. We conclude that existing solutions fall short in meeting important information needs of the selected group. We describe the design of an information system prototype to address these gaps more accurately. We combine data of the International Aid Transparency Initiative and the Humanitarian Data Exchange to form the data-backend of our system. We describe our implementation approach and evaluation plan.

Abstract: In complex emergencies, civil and military organizations often find themselves being partners in an international effort aimed at peace keeping, humanitarian relief, and development support. Civil and military partners need to exchange information and to cooperate as required. This assumes effective and efficient Civil-Military Interaction (CMI). However, CMI research literature shows that, in practice, this is far from a reality. In particular, our research indicates that deficiencies in knowledge processes and knowledge management within international civil and military organizations contribute to the causes of ineffective and inefficient CMI. Our research aims to investigate the feasibility of developing technical solutions exploiting knowledge engineering, to support fieldworkers in overcoming these CMI problems. As a first step, this paper introduces a Conceptual Framework (CF) that captures reference models of the CMI domain. The CF has been developed to analyze CMI problems and underlying KM deficiencies. It is being illustrated, explored and validated using real-world case studies.

Abstract: In this paper, we discuss the architecture and implementation of INDICATOR, a free open source cyberenvironment for disease surveillance. Biosurveillance entails numerous tasks, including data acquisition and preparation, analysis, and reporting. These tasks can be modeled and executed as a workflow. Workflows encapsulate data, tools, and metadata. Cyberenvironments provide integrated, user-friendly sets of tools and services to marshal resources and help researchers analyze, visualize, and model their data. INDICATOR uses an Eclipse-based cyberenvironment that supports interactive workflow creation, connection to data and event streams, provenance tracking, and reuse of workflows and fragments to acquire, analyze, and visualize public health data.

Abstract: Emergency responders' attitude to IT is marked by resistance, aversity, and rejection. This does not extend to technology in general and is specific to IT alone. Current research on the topic only presents partial, scattered, and unconnected accounts that do not provide a starting point on how to tackle this attitude. The available models for technology acceptance are also generic and do not take into account the specifics of the emergency response domain. Through extensive user research combined with a grounded theory approach, this paper identifies twelve problem areas from which responders' negative attitude towards IT arises. By extending the technology acceptance models with this new knowledge, we provide system designers with an understanding of what to tackle and tune in their IT system designs so that a positive attitude among emergency responders can be achieved.