Susannah McClendon, & Anthony C. Robinson. (2012). Leveraging geospatially-oriented social media communications in disaster response. 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: Geospatially-oriented social media communications have emerged as a common information resource to support crisis management. Our research compares the capabilities of two popular systems used to collect and visualize such information – Project Epic's Tweak the Tweet (TtT) and Ushahidi. Our research uses geospatially-oriented social media gathered by both projects during recent disasters to compare and contrast the frequency, content, and location components of contributed information to both systems. We compare how data was gathered and filtered, how spatial information was extracted and mapped, and the mechanisms by which the resulting synthesized information was shared with response and recovery organizations. In addition, we categorize the degree to which each platform in each disaster led to actions by first responders and emergency managers. Based on the results of our comparisons we identify key design considerations for future social media mapping tools to support crisis management. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Kenneth S. Pelman, & Anthony C. Robinson. (2011). An interactive mapping application for rapid evacuation planning. 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: Current GIS solutions for evacuation planning are frequently based on expensive and difficult to use commercial software solutions. These tools require a GIS analyst to generate and interpret results for decision makers. This paper introduces a web-based interactive mapping tool called EvacSpace that can provide emergency managers with actionable spatial information to develop plans for potential citizen evacuations in common emergency situations. Easy-to-use web mapping software and services are blended together with cloud computing methods to support interactive, visually-enabled evacuation planning and scenario evaluation. Here we show our current progress through a case study application to characterize the usefulness and utility of EvacSpace for the rapid, interactive development and assessment of evacuation plans.
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Brian M. Tomaszewski, Anthony C. Robinson, Chris E. Weaver, Michael Stryker, & Alan M. MacEachren. (2007). Geovisual analytics and crisis management. 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. 173–179). Delft: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Increasing data heterogeneity, fragmentation and volume, coupled with complex connections among specialists in disaster response, mitigation, and recovery situations demand new approaches for information technology to support crisis management. Advances in visual analytics tools show promise to support time-sensitive collaboration, analytical reasoning, problem solving and decision making for crisis management. Furthermore, as all crises have geospatial components, crisis management tools need to include geospatial data representation and support for geographic contextualization of location-specific decision-making throughout the crisis. This paper provides an introduction to and description of Geovisual Analytics applied to crisis management activity. The goal of Geovisual Analytics in this context is to support situational awareness, problem solving, and decision making using highly interactive, visual environments that integrate multiple data sources that include georeferencing. We use an emergency support function example to discuss how recent progress in Geovisual Analytics can address the issues a crisis can present.
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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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Anthony C. Robinson, Alexander Savelyev, Scott Pezanowski, & Alan M. MacEachren. (2013). Understanding the utility of geospatial information in social media. 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. 918–922). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: Crisis situations generate tens of millions of social media reports, many of which contain references to geographic features and locations. Contemporary systems are now capable of mining and visualizing these location references in social media reports, but we have yet to develop a deep understanding of what end-users will expect to do with this information when attempting to achieve situational awareness. To explore this problem, we have conducted a utility and usability analysis of SensePlace2, a geovisual analytics tool designed to explore geospatial information found in Tweets. Eight users completed a task analysis and survey study using SensePlace2. Our findings reveal user expectations and key paths for solving usability and utility issues to inform the design of future visual analytics systems that incorporate geographic information from social media.
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