Massimo Cossentino, Davide, rea Guastella, Salvatore Lopes, Luca Sabatucci, & Mario Tripiciano. (2022). From Textual Emergency Procedures to Executable Plans. In Rob Grace, & Hossein Baharmand (Eds.), ISCRAM 2022 Conference Proceedings – 19th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 200–212). Tarbes, France.
Abstract: Crisis response and management often involve joint actions among different actors. This is particularly true in cross border cooperation, i.e. when actors belong to different countries. This is the operative context of the NETTUNIT research project, which long-term objective is to provide automatic support to emergency management. Modelling emergency plans is challenging because they are usually written in free-form text, thus in a form that is very far from being automatically processed and executed. In other words, it is non-trivial to define workflows capable of managing and monitoring emergency plans. To complicate the problem, typically an emergency evolves in a highly dynamic environment, so there is the need for run-time adaptation. In this paper, we propose a roadmap for producing executable workflows from emergency free-text plans. We set up our current progress in the project and focus on the sub-problem of identifying a suitable modelling notation. We also propose two improvements with respect to the state of the art: 1) a specific diagram focusing on events, roles and responsibilities in a goal-oriented fashion; 2) some guidelines for depicting the emergency plan at hand with a modelling notation.
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Kenny Meesters, & Bartel A. Van De Walle. (2013). Disaster in my backyard: A serious game introduction to disaster information management. 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. 145–150). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: Disaster exercises are intended to improve disaster responses effectiveness. Exercises exist in a wide variety, ranging from table-top scenarios to full-scale disaster simulations, offering participants different learning experiences. However these exercises can be overwhelming to newcomers, especially when involving large scale simulations, reducing the effectiveness of the learning experience. In order to make the learning experiences more effective to newcomers, researchers or professionals, a new exercise is proposed. This exercise, designed as a serious game, provides a new way to introduce people to the field of disaster management in general and information management in particular. The first version of the game was played during the 2012 ISCRAM summer school where it yielded positive reactions from both novice participants and experienced professionals.
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Willem J. Muhren, & Bartel A. Van De Walle. (2009). Sensemaking and information management in humanitarian disaster response: Observations from the TRIPLEX exercise. In S. J. J. Landgren (Ed.), ISCRAM 2009 – 6th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: Boundary Spanning Initiatives and New Perspectives. Gothenburg: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) system is designed to assist the United Nations in providing information during the first phase of a sudden-onset emergency and in the coordination of incoming international relief at the site of the emergency. In the immediate aftermath of such an emergency, the UNDAC team will set up an On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) from where the operational activities of the humanitarian organizations responding to the emergency are coordinated. Information management is a key aspect in this phase as the information gathering, processing, and disseminating activities will determine the timeliness and appropriateness of the response by the international humanitarian community. Through participatory observation in the international humanitarian “TRIPLEX” exercise we explore how information managers in the OSOCC make sense of the disaster, how the immediate needs are assessed, and discuss how information systems could improve Sensemaking in these activities.
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Willem J. Muhren, Damir Durbic, & Bartel A. Van De Walle. (2010). Exploring decision-relevant information pooling by humanitarian disaster response teams. 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 a well-known fact that a lack of information will lead to suboptimal decisions. But even when actors jointly have all the information they need to make a well-informed decision, they may fail to find a superior alternative. This hidden profile paradigm would cause misrepresentations of crisis situations and lead to ineffective response. In this research-in-progress paper, we present the first stage of our experimental study on group decision making in humanitarian disaster response, in which we want to find out how teams can be supported to share more information, make better sense, and ultimately avoid such misrepresentations of crisis situations. First results reveal that humanitarian disaster response teams are able to share significantly more information if they would make use of more advanced information and communication systems. However, none of the teams in the experimental setup managed to find the optimal decision.
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Ahmed Nagy, & Jeannie Stamberger. (2012). Crowd sentiment detection during disasters and crises. 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: Microblogs are an opportunity for scavenging critical information such as sentiments. This information can be used to detect rapidly the sentiment of the crowd towards crises or disasters. It can be used as an effective tool to inform humanitarian efforts, and improve the ways in which informative messages are crafted for the crowd regarding an event. Unique characteristics of microblogs (lack of context, use of jargon etc) in Tweets expressed by a message-sharing social network during a disaster response require special handling to identify sentiment. We present a systematic evaluation of approaches to accurately and precisely identify sentiment in these Tweets. This paper describes sentiment detection expressed in 3698 Tweets, collected during the September 2010, San Bruno, California gas explosion and resulting fires. The data collected was manually coded to benchmark our techniques. We start by using a library of words with annotated sentiment, SentiWordNet 3.0, to detect the basic sentiment of each Tweet. We complemented that technique by adding a comprehensive list of emoticons, a sentiment based dictionary and a list of out-of-vocabulary words that are popular in brief, online text communications such as lol, wow, etc. Our technique performed 27% better than Bayesian Networks alone, and the combination of Bayesian networks with annotated lists provided marginal improvements in sentiment detection than various combinations of lists. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Norbert Steigenberger. (2015). Organizing for the Big One ? A Review of Case Studies on Multi – Agency D isa s- ter Response and a Research Agenda. 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: Disaster response operations exceed the capacities of each single organization
Disaster response operations exceed the capacities of each single organization and thus require cooperation by at least two, often up to some hundred agencies who do seldom interact in their daily operations. The result is a complex problem of cognition, coordination, command and control. This paper presents a review of empirical studies on multi-agency coordination in disaster response operations in order to initiate and facilitate cross-case learning. The review covers 72 empirical studies and highlights the importance of themes such as plans and plan enactment, leadership or personal acquaintance of actors in emergent multi-agency response networks. The analysis also shows that while some themes received extensive coverage in scholarly publications (e.g. training, skills), various important topics have not been studied in sufficient depth (e.g. development of common operational pictures, plan enactment). Based on these insights, the review develops a research agenda and derives various recommendations for practical disaster response management.
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Gisli Rafn Olafsson. (2010). Effective coordination of disaster response – The international perspective. 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: Humanitarian situations have gotten more and more complex. Climate change is increasing the intensity, the increased involvement of NGOs and the revolution of social media has changed disaster response. This paper starts with a discussion of the changes that have happened in the last 10 years and then discusses how technology plays an increasing role in solving some of the more complex issues that disaster coordinators face.
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Stijn Oomes. (2004). Organization awareness in crisis management: Dynamic organigrams for more effective disaster response. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2004 – 1st International Workshop on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 63–68). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: Disaster response organizations are ad-hoc assemblies of multiple emergency services that collaborate with the goal to minimize the number of casualties and possible (infra)structural damage. In order to be effective, emergency personnel not only needs shared awareness of the situation but also awareness of the organization. We propose an organization awareness support system that contains a dynamic organigram that provides people with a real-time visualization of the organization that they belong to. © Proceedings ISCRAM 2004.
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Samuel Otim. (2006). A case-based knowledge management system for disaster management: Fundamental concepts. In M. T. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2006 – 3rd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 598–604). Newark, NJ: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: Computer-based knowledge management systems are vital for disaster detection, response planning, and management. These systems aid in early warning, and provide decision support for disaster response and recovery management. Managing past knowledge for reuse can expedite the process of disaster response and recovery management. While early warning systems predict some disasters with remarkable accuracy, there is a paucity of knowledge management systems for disaster response and management. This paper outlines a case-based reasoning (CBR) knowledge management system that in effect, is a model of human reasoning since it is based upon the idea that people frequently rely on previous problem-solving experiences when solving new problems. A CBR knowledge management system results in efficient and effective disaster response and management.
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Reza Mazloom, HongMin Li, Doina Caragea, Muhammad Imran, & Cornelia Caragea. (2018). Classification of Twitter Disaster Data Using a Hybrid Feature-Instance Adaptation Approach. In Kees Boersma, & Brian Tomaszeski (Eds.), ISCRAM 2018 Conference Proceedings – 15th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 727–735). Rochester, NY (USA): Rochester Institute of Technology.
Abstract: Huge amounts of data that are generated on social media during emergency situations are regarded as troves of critical information. The use of supervised machine learning techniques in the early stages of a disaster is challenged by the lack of labeled data for that particular disaster. Furthermore, supervised models trained on labeled data from a prior disaster may not produce accurate results, given the inherent variation between the current and the prior disasters. To address the challenges posed by the lack of labeled data for a target disaster, we propose to use a hybrid feature-instance adaptation approach based on matrix factorization and the k nearest neighbors algorithm, respectively. The proposed hybrid adaptation approach is used to select a subset of the source disaster data that is representative for the target disaster. The selected subset is subsequently used to learn accurate Naive Bayes classifiers for the target disaster.
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Jakob Rogstadius, Claudio Teixeira, Evangelos Karapanos, & Vassilis Kostakos. (2013). An introduction for system developers to volunteer roles in crisis response and recovery. 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. 874–883). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: Technological advances, such as software tools for citizen reporting, first responder support, and online collaborative information management and mapping, are enabling new or improved forms of volunteering in humanitarian crisis. However, the change is largely driven by the technical community and many proposed solutions are never integrated into community response efforts, indicating mismatches between designs and real world needs. This paper offers readers with a technical background insight into roles, goals and constraints of humanitarian crisis response. In particular, we present three seemingly conflicting views regarding how citizens can contribute to response activities as spontaneous volunteers. With examples from two field studies and grounded in literature review, we integrate the three viewpoints into a framework explaining how the roles of volunteers and trained professionals shift with increasing severity and scale of a crisis. Based on this framework, we also discuss high-level opportunities for supporting crisis response with new software tools.
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Jorge H. Roman, Linn Marks Collins, Ketan K. Mane, Mark L.B. Martinez, Carolyn E Dunford, & James E. Powell Jr. (2008). Reducing information overload in emergencies by detecting themes in web content. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 101–107). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Information on the Web has become increasingly important in disaster response. Yet much of this information is redundant. We are creating a suite of electronic knowledge management (eKM) tools that can be used to reduce by an order of magnitude the information that people need to read in order to gain and maintain awareness of web content during emergencies. In this paper, we describe research-in-progress on developing these tools and applying them to web content from organizations' websites and individuals' blogs. Results so far indicate that organizations' websites and individuals' blogs provide redundant coverage of general issues and that each provides additional information about specific issues. By using the tools we are developing, responders and victims will be able to quickly gather an overview of general issues derived from many websites, then learn more about specific issues by navigating to a few websites.
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Stefan Sackmann, Marlen Hofmann, & Hans Betke. (2013). Towards the Integration of Place-related Information in Disaster Response Processes. 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. 78–83). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: Processes in disaster response management (DRM) and business processes are similar due to their general structure and goals. This encourages us to analyze the suitability of business process management tools and methods in the domain of DRM. One main challenge is the coverage of disaster specific aspects by existing process modeling languages. Since interdependencies between time, activities, and place are critical for process planning, we discuss the necessity for model extension. A special focus lies on the integration of place-related information as well as interdependencies resulting from stationary and mobile activities and resources. The integration of such place-related information is discussed as pre-condition for effective and efficient planning of disaster response processes and their successful management by disaster response workflow management systems.
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Samuel Lee Toepke, & R. Scott Starsman. (2015). Population Distribution Estimation of an Urban Area Using Crowd Sourced Data for Disaster Response. 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: In the event of a disaster, high resolution knowledge of expected population distribution is a boon to the situational awareness of disaster managers and first responders. Knowing the expected locations of large throngs of people can greatly affect distribution of aid and response infrastructure. Effective dissemination of this information can be realized by using a myriad of readily available technologies.
With the modern proliferation of smart phones, pervasive Internet and freely available social media applications, population distribution can be estimated from the constant aggregation of crowd sourced data. Twitter and Instagram both publish geolocated data, which is then processed by a cloud-based, enterprise application to generate heat maps. The heat maps are then shown in a real-time geographic information system that is visible to any mobile device with a web browser.
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Alexander Smirnov, Nikolay Shilov, Tatiana Levashova, & Alexey Kashevnik. (2008). Web-service network for disaster management. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 516–525). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: The paper addresses the issue of context-aware operational decision support in emergency situations. A decision support system (DSS) developed for this purpose is implemented as a network of a set of Web-services. The Web-services try to organise a service network according to context. Here the context is proposed to be modelled as a “problem model”. It specifies problems to be solved in a particular kind of emergency situation. Context is produced based on the knowledge extracted from the application domain (application ontology) and formalised by a set of constraints. The purpose of the service network is provision the DSS with contextualised information from diverse information sources and solving problems specified in the context. In the framework of context-aware operational decision support, composition of the application ontology for the disaster management domain from the Semantic Web Ontologies is discussed and a hybrid technology of context-aware operational decision support is presented. The technology is based on ontology management, context management, constraint satisfaction, and Web Services. Application of the ideas above is illustrated by an example of a decision support system for real-time resource coordination and situation awareness for logistics management in fire response operations.
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Nathaniel Inglis Steinfeld. (2012). Federal emergency and disaster requests for tribal lands. 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: Indian tribes have a special relationship with the federal government that dates back to the establishment of the United States. Federal disaster law, however, treats tribes as local governments and gives little weight to the historic relationship and lands of tribes. Instead of communicating as sovereign governments, tribes must first submit a disaster request to state officials, who then have discretion in transmitting the information to the federal government. This additional step in communication harms two important goals in disaster response on tribal lands: Efficiency and respectfulness in emergency communication and assistance. This paper examines how the legal framework that frames that intergovernmental communication. With this short introduction, this paper hopes to draw attention to the unique characteristics of tribal government, Indian law, and disasters on tribal land. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Sultan A. Alharthi, Nick LaLone, Ahmed S. Khalaf, Ruth Torres, Lennart Nacke, Igor Dolgov, et al. (2018). Practical Insights into the Design of Future Disaster Response Training Simulations. In Kees Boersma, & Brian Tomaszeski (Eds.), ISCRAM 2018 Conference Proceedings – 15th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 818–830). Rochester, NY (USA): Rochester Institute of Technology.
Abstract: A primary component of disaster response is training. These educational exercises provide responders with the knowledge and skills needed to be prepared when disasters happen. However, traditional training methods, such as high-fidelity simulations (e.g., real-life drills) and classroom courses, may fall short of providing effective and cost-efficient training that is needed for today's challenges. Advances in technology open a wide range of opportunities for training using computer-mediated simulations and exercises. These exercises include the use of mixed reality games and wearable computers. Existing studies report on the usefulness of these technologies for training purposes. This review paper synthesizes prior research and development of disaster response simulations and identifies challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned. Through this review, we provide researchers and designers with an overview of current practices in designing training simulations and contribute practical insights into the design of future disaster response training.
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Jeannette N. Sutton. (2012). When online is off: Public communications following the February 2011 Christchurch, NZ, earthquake. 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: This work in progress investigates the communication issues encountered and the strategies used by local government to communicate electronically with disaster affected individuals in the immediate aftermath of the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, NZ. It also provides a preliminary examination of the effects of information access on individual perceptions of community resiliency. We draw from a variety of data sources, including field research, interviews, and focus groups with local community members. Ongoing survey research will be integrated into future papers and presentations. This research provides insight into online crisis communications and the effectiveness of strategies to communicate with members of the public in a post-disaster environment when there is limited access to information via electronic channels. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Thomas Theodoridis, George Katsikas, Nicholas Vretos, & Petros Daras. (2022). A Symbiotic Orchestration Module for Multi-agent Collaboration in Disaster Response Scenarios. In Rob Grace, & Hossein Baharmand (Eds.), ISCRAM 2022 Conference Proceedings – 19th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 771–780). Tarbes, France.
Abstract: This paper presents the Symbiotic Orchestration Module, which facilitates the collaboration of smart agents in disaster response scenarios. By effectively orchestrating the actions of different agents in critical situations towards a common goal, it enhances the individual capabilities of the agents and unlocks new possibilities that are not available when agents act isolated. To achieve this, the Symbiotic Orchestration Module is composed of four sub-modules: a) the Mission Controller, which is responsible for keeping track of ongoing missions, agent allocations and for handling non-collaborative missions, b) the Symbiotic Operation Control Module, which handles collaborative missions proposed by the system, c) the Task Allocation Module, which automatically assigns available robots to incoming missions based on robot capabilities and mission requirements, and d) the Task Recognition and Optimal Sequencing Module, which is responsible for recognizing opportunities for agent collaboration and for system-wide goal optimization.
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Tim-Jonathan Huyeng, Timo Bittner, & Uwe Rüppel. (2022). Examining the Feasibility of LoRa-based Monitoring in Large-scale Disaster Response Scenarios. In Rob Grace, & Hossein Baharmand (Eds.), ISCRAM 2022 Conference Proceedings – 19th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 541–550). Tarbes, France.
Abstract: Following a natural disaster or other large-scale events which require emergency response assessing and monitoring the situation at hand is of critical importance. However, some infrastructure that is often relied upon such as cellular service or the power grid might be temporarily disrupted or entirely unavailable. In order to be able to still transmit relevant monitoring data gathered from sensors, the use of a low-cost LPWAN with LoRa modulation technique is suggested in the approach presented here. Combined with an analysis of disaster response in Germany the relevant aspects are consolidated in a concept utilizing LoRaWAN with a ChirpStack backend that is easy to set up and entirely independent of external infrastructure. The proposed addition which aims to support disaster control management in Germany is then tested in conjunction with a fictional flooding scenario where an area is monitored with autarkic sensors using LoRaWAN technology.
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Tina Comes, Brice Mayag, & Elsa Negre. (2015). Beyond Early: Decision Support for Improved Typhoon Warning Systems. 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: Warnings can help prevent damage and harm if they are issued timely and provide information that help responders and population to adequately prepare for the disaster to come. Today, there are many indicator and sensor systems that are designed to reduce disaster risks, or issue early warnings. In this paper we analyze the different systems in the light of the initial decisions that need to be made in the response to sudden onset disasters. We outline challenges of current practices and methods, and provide an agenda for future research.
To illustrate our approach, we present a case study of Typhoon Haiyan. Although meteorological services had issued warnings; relief goods were prepositioned; and responders predeployed, the delivery of aid was delayed in some of the worst hit regions. We argue for an integrated consideration of preparedness and response to provide adequate thresholds for early warning systems that focus on decision-makers needs.
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Eva Törnqvist, Johan Sigholm, & Simin Nadjm-Tehrani. (2009). Hastily formed networks for disaster response: Technical heterogeneity and virtual pockets of local order. In S. J. J. Landgren (Ed.), ISCRAM 2009 – 6th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: Boundary Spanning Initiatives and New Perspectives. Gothenburg: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: As natural and man-made disasters become increasingly common, ensuring effective disaster response, mitigation and recovery is growing into a high-priority task for governments and administrations globally. This paper describes the challenges of collaboration within multi-organisational hastily formed networks for post-disaster response, which are increasingly relying on emerging ICT infrastructures for communication and cooperation. We present an interdisciplinary analysis of the conditions for establishing an effective mutual conversation space for involved stakeholders, and how the development of socio-technological systems affects cognitive and behavioural aspects such as established communities of practice and virtual pockets of local order. Our observations thus far suggest that some of the key issues are overcoming organisational and cultural heterogeneity, and finding solutions for technical interoperability, to ensure effective, pervasive and sustainable information exchange within and between organisations participating in hastily formed networks.
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Chris J. Van Aart, & Stijn Oomes. (2008). Real-time organigraphs for collaboration awareness. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 651–659). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Collaboration awareness, as extension to organization awareness, is knowing how organizations do work and achieve their goals. This knowledge moves on a scale from stated prescribed ways of acting (such as procedures and protocols) to informal channels of communication, teamwork and decision-making. Based on available static and dynamic data, standardized insights can be given about collaboration in emergency situations in the form of organigraphs. We argue that for gaining practical collaboration awareness, both the formal structure of an organization as well as informal interactions should be inspected. Informal interaction includes informal communication channels, actual decision making on the spot and multi-disciplinary joint activities. We have implemented our system in the form of a web-based visualization tool. This tool would have been useful in the Hercules disaster, giving insights in informal information exchange, possibly preventing fatal decisions.
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Rebecca Walton, Robin E. Mays, & Mark P. Haselkorn. (2011). Defining fast: Factors affecting the experience of speed in humanitarian logistics. 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: Speed is a central value for emergency logistics stakeholders. Emergency response literature makes a compelling case for rapid logistics processes to provide goods and services in humanitarian emergencies. However, speed is not well-defined concept. While situational demand contributes to the need for speed, an important factor is the perception of speed given the experience of the response stakeholders. Unfortunately, the literature lacks complex, situated pictures of how logistics stakeholders experience speed (i.e., what does it mean for a logistics process to be “fast”? What factors affect whether stakeholders perceive a logistics experience as fast?) To address this gap, we explored how logistics stakeholders in a large international humanitarian organization experience and perceive speed of operations. Our findings suggest that (1) the experience of speed is often comparative, not solely objective; (2) close communication between internal clients (field requestors) and service providers (logistics team) can make clients more likely to experience the logistics process as fast; and (3) feeling in control of decision-making can make both clients and service providers more likely to experience the logistics process as fast.
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Duncan T. Wilson, Glenn I. Hawe, Graham Coates, & Roger S. Crouch. (2013). Scheduling response operations under transport network disruptions. 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. 683–687). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: Modeling the complex decision problems faced in the coordination of disaster response as a scheduling problem to be solved using an optimization algorithm has the potential to deliver efficient and effective support to decision makers. However, much of the utility of such a model lies in its ability to accurately predict the outcome of any proposed solution. The stochastic nature of the disaster response environment can make such prediction difficult. In this paper we examine the effect of unknown disruptions to the road transport network on the utility of a disaster response scheduling model. The effects of several levels of disruption are measured empirically and the potential of using real-time information to revise model parameters, and thereby improve predictive performance, is evaluated.
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