Cody Buntain, Richard Mccreadie, & Ian Soboroff. (2022). Incident Streams 2021 Off the Deep End: Deeper Annotations and Evaluations in Twitter. In Rob Grace, & Hossein Baharmand (Eds.), ISCRAM 2022 Conference Proceedings – 19th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 584–604). Tarbes, France.
Abstract: This paper summarizes the final year of the four-year Text REtrieval Conference Incident Streams track (TREC-IS), which has produced a large dataset comprising 136,263 annotated tweets, spanning 98 crisis events. Goals of this final year were twofold: 1) to add new categories for assessing messages, with a focus on characterizing the audience, author, and images associated with these messages, and 2) to enlarge the TREC-IS dataset with new events, with an emphasis of deeper pools for sampling. Beyond these two goals, TREC-IS has nearly doubled the number of annotated messages per event for the 26 crises introduced in 2021 and has released a new parallel dataset of 312,546 images associated with crisis content – with 7,297 tweets having annotations about their embedded images. Our analyses of this new crisis data yields new insights about the context of a tweet; e.g., messages intended for a local audience and those that contain images of weather forecasts and infographics have higher than average assessments of priority but are relatively rare. Tweets containing images, however, have higher perceived priorities than tweets without images. Moving to deeper pools, while tending to lower classification performance, also does not generally impact performance rankings or alter distributions of information-types. We end this paper with a discussion of these datasets, analyses, their implications, and how they contribute both new data and insights to the broader crisis informatics community.
|
Cody Buntain, Richard Mccreadie, & Ian Soboroff. (2021). Incident Streams 2020: TRECIS in the Time of COVID-19. 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. 621–639). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: Between 2018 and 2019, the Incident Streams track (TREC-IS) has developed standard approaches for classifying the types and criticality of information shared in online social spaces during crises, but the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 has shifted the landscape of online crises substantially. While prior editions of TREC-IS have lacked data on large-scale public-health emergencies as these events are exceedingly rare, COVID-19 has introduced an over-abundance of potential data, and significant open questions remain about how existing approaches to crisis informatics and datasets built on other emergencies adapt to this new context. This paper describes how the 2020 edition of TREC-IS has addressed these dual issues by introducing a new COVID-19-specific task for evaluating generalization of existing COVID-19 annotation and system performance to this new context, applied to 11 regions across the globe. TREC-IS has also continued expanding its set of target crises, adding 29 new events and expanding the collection of event types to include explosions, fires, and general storms, making for a total of 9 event types in addition to the new COVID-19 events. Across these events, TREC-IS has made available 478,110 COVID-related messages and 282,444 crisis-related messages for participant systems to analyze, of which 14,835 COVID-related and 19,784 crisis-related messages have been manually annotated. Analyses of these new datasets and participant systems demonstrate first that both the distributions of information type and priority of information vary between general crises and COVID-19-related discussion. Secondly, despite these differences, results suggest leveraging general crisis data in the COVID-19 context improves performance over baselines. Using these results, we provide guidance on which information types appear most consistent between general crises and COVID-19.
|
Colleen J Buono, Theodore C. Chan, William G. Griswold, Ricky Huang, Fang Liu, James Killeen, et al. (2008). WIISARD: Wireless internet information system for medical response to disasters. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (126). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Called the Wireless Internet Information System for Medical Response in Disasters, or WIISARD, the use of sophisticated wireless technology to coordinate and enhance care of mass casualties in a terrorist attack or natural disaster is the focus of a federally funded research project at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The project brings together broad-based participation from academia, industry, the military, and emergency responders from the City and County of San Diego.
|
Congcong Wang, Paul Nulty, & David Lillis. (2021). Crisis Domain Adaptation Using Sequence-to-Sequence Transformers. 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. 655–666). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: User-generated content (UGC) on social media can act as a key source of information for emergency responders incrisis situations. However, due to the volume concerned, computational techniques are needed to effectively filter and prioritise this content as it arises during emerging events. In the literature, these techniques are trained using annotated content from previous crises. In this paper, we investigate how this prior knowledge can be best leveraged for new crises by examining the extent to which crisis events of a similar type are more suitable for adaptation tonew events (cross-domain adaptation). Given the recent successes of transformers in various language processing tasks, we propose CAST: an approach for Crisis domain Adaptation leveraging Sequence-to-sequence Transformers. We evaluate CAST using two major crisis-related message classification datasets. Our experiments show that ourCAST-based best run without using any target data achieves the state of the art performance in both in-domain and cross-domain contexts. Moreover, CAST is particularly effective in one-to-one cross-domain adaptation when trained with a larger language model. In many-to-one adaptation where multiple crises are jointly used as the source domain, CAST further improves its performance. In addition, we find that more similar events are more likely to bring better adaptation performance whereas fine-tuning using dissimilar events does not help for adaptation. To aid reproducibility, we open source our code to the community.
|
Connie White, Linda Plotnick, Jane Kushma, Starr Roxanne Hiltz, & Murray Turoff. (2009). An online social network for emergency management. 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: Online Social Networking Sites (SNS) are becoming extremely popular and can be employed in a variety of contexts. They permit the establishment of global relationships that are domain related or can be based on some general need shared by the participants. Emergency domain related websites, each with their own stated mission, are becoming widespread. Can a social network offer a solution to bringing emergency domain-related entities together as a 'one stop shop?' We propose to investigate whether the social network paradigm can be used to enable individuals and organizations to collaborate in mutually beneficial ways, in all stages of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Emergency management students were surveyed to examine the concept of social networks and their acceptance as a potential tool. The results of this exploratory research show overwhelming agreement that SNS should be considered a viable solution to the problems plaguing information dissemination and communications in the emergency domain.
|
Connie White, Murray Turoff, & Bartel A. Van De Walle. (2007). A dynamic delphi process utilizing a modified thurstone scaling method: Collaborative judgement in emergency response. 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. 7–15). Delft: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: In an extreme event or major disaster, very often there are both alternative actions that might be considered and far more requests for actions than can be executed immediately. The relative desirability of each option for action could be a collaborative expression of a significant number of emergency managers and experts trying to manage the most desirable alternatives at any given time, in real time. Delphi characteristics can satisfy these needs given that anyone can vote or change their vote on any two options, and voting and scaling are used to promote a group understanding. Further utilized with Thurstone's Law of Comparative Judgment, a group decision or the range of acceptability a group is willing to consent to, can be calculated and utilized as a means of producing the best decision. A ubiquitous system for expeditious real-time decision making by large virtual teams in emergency response environments is described.
|
Connie White, Starr Roxanne Hiltz, & Murray Turoff. (2008). United we respond: One community, one voice. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 25–33). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: When emergency situations cross borders, or when newly formed groups need to work together, decision making can suffer from threat rigidity and pertinent information can be bypassed. We describe a Dynamic Delphi system under development that can create and sustain a group “voice” for an emergency response Community of Practice (CoP). We further describe its intended use for a CoP consisting of local, state and federal government responders, civilian emergency response teams (CERT), and volunteers. Community members can brainstorm, explore ideas, debate and vote iteratively to best reflect the group's opinion at any moment in time. Ongoing studies demonstrate that an online system implementing Dynamic Delphi characteristics along with Thurstone's Law of Comparative Judgment will prove conducive for building a repertoire of ideas, rules, policies or any other aspect of the community's 'voice', in such a way that the individual voices are juxtaposed in harmony to create a single song.
|
Cornelia Caragea, Nathan McNeese, Anuj Jaiswal, Greg Traylor, Hyun-Woo Kim, Prasenjit Mitra, et al. (2011). Classifying text messages for the haiti earthquake. 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: In case of emergencies (e.g., earthquakes, flooding), rapid responses are needed in order to address victims' requests for help. Social media used around crises involves self-organizing behavior that can produce accurate results, often in advance of official communications. This allows affected population to send tweets or text messages, and hence, make them heard. The ability to classify tweets and text messages automatically, together with the ability to deliver the relevant information to the appropriate personnel are essential for enabling the personnel to timely and efficiently work to address the most urgent needs, and to understand the emergency situation better. In this study, we developed a reusable information technology infrastructure, called Enhanced Messaging for the Emergency Response Sector (EMERSE), which classifies and aggregates tweets and text messages about the Haiti disaster relief so that non-governmental organizations, relief workers, people in Haiti, and their friends and families can easily access them.
|
Cornelius Dold, Christopher Munschauer, & Ompe Aimé Mudimu. (2020). Real-Life Exercises as a Tool in Security Research and Civil Protection – Options for Data Collections. 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. 244–250). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: A real-life exercise is a scientific method used by the TH Köln to generate data sets of new technologies and operational concepts derived from research projects. The Institute of Rescue Engineering and Civil Protection (German acronym: IRG) uses a real-time locating system (RTLS), video surveillance, observers and a mass casualty incident benchmark to generate motion profiles, information flows and information on the quality of care. In this practitioner paper these different methods will be discussed and the combination of different data is described. Furthermore, an outlook is given on the extent to which the method will be improved and expand-ed in the future. Concluding it can be said that the combination of all collected data is essential for the evalua-tion of a real-life exercise in security research or civil protection.
|
Cossentino, M., Guastella, D. A., Lopes, S., & Sabatucci, L. (2023). Adaptive Execution of Workflows in Emergency Response. In Jaziar Radianti, Ioannis Dokas, Nicolas Lalone, & Deepak Khazanchi (Eds.), Proceedings of the 20th International ISCRAM Conference (pp. 784–796). Omaha, USA: University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Abstract: In emergencies, preparation is of paramount importance but it is not sufficient. As we know, emergency agencies develop extensive (text) plans to deal with accidents that could occur in their territories; their personnel train to enact such procedures, but, despite that, the unpredictable conditions that occur during an emergency require the ability to adapt the plan promptly. This paper deals with the last mile of a process we defined for enabling the adaptive execution of such emergency plans. In previous works, we discussed how to convert a free-text plan into a structured-text form, represent this plan using standard modelling notations, and extract goals that plans prescribe to be fulfilled. In this paper, we propose an approach for executing these plans with a workflow execution engine enriched by the capability to support runtime adaptation.
|
Craig E. Kuziemsky, Tracey L. O'Sullivan, & Wayne Corneil. (2012). An upstream-downstream approach for disaster management information systems design. 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: Information is an essential part of disaster management. Information systems (IS) are a key means of providing the right information at the right time to support response to a disaster, and fostering collaborative facilitators such as situation awareness, common ground and communities of practice. However for these collaborative facilitators to support 'downstream events' (i.e. disaster response) they need to emerge and be grown from 'upstream' activities such as user engagement. Subsequently IS design requirements for disaster response are embedded in the community where a system will be used and it is from the community users and their needs that IS requirements must emerge. This paper presents an upstream-downstream approach for disaster management IS design. We describe four phases to user centered information systems design to support disaster management and provide a case study of using this approach in action to design an IS to enhance community resilience. © 2012 ISCRAM.
|
Cynthia Nikolai, Irma Becerra-Fernandez, Troy Johnson, & Greg Madey. (2010). Leveraging WebEOC in support of the Haitian relief effort: Insights and lessons learned. 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: The magnitude seven earthquake that rocked Haiti has been a devastating disaster for the small country (USGS 2010). They are not alone in this crisis, however. When the earthquake struck, thousands of US citizens responded by donating money, resources, people, and time to aid in the disaster relief. To respond to the incident and to create a secure information-sharing environment, the Florida Miami-Dade County and State Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) were activated. The main information system in use at the Miami-Dade EOC is WebEOC, a web-based crisis information management system that aids in secure coordination and collaboration among EOC staff, liaisons, and emergency managers. As a result of the earthquake response efforts using this system, we have identified seven main insights and lessons learned with respect to crisis information management software. In this paper, we discuss Miami-Dade's role in the Haitian relief efforts and how this lead to these insights and lessons learned.
|
Dan Harnesk, Sören Samulesson, & John Lindström. (2009). Action research supported implementation of a crisis competence centre. 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 purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a regional crisis competence centre in Sweden. The overall research approach utilizes action research methodology to support the development process. The overall development process is divided into three steps; early need finding, the organizational platform, and business development. This paper is devoted to the first phase – early need finding – which deals with the specific needs and demand of four municipality organizations and how these requirements can be converged into a organizational setting that correspond to national crisis management strategies as well as regional responsibilities in crisis management. The research approach is action based and the theoretical considerations to support progress in development activities are from the Actor Network Theory (ANT). The main conclusion from the research is that the formation of a crisis competence centre revolves around sharing competences, and compromising between internal and external objectives in the progress towards a common goal.
|
Daniel E. Lane, Tracey L. O'Sullivan, Craig E. Kuziemsky, Fikret Berkes, & Anthony Charles. (2013). A structured equation model of collaborative community response. 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. 906–911). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: This paper analyses the collaborative dynamic of community in response to urgent situations. Community emergencies arising from natural or man-induced threats are considered as exogenous events that stimulate community resources to be unified around the response, action, and recovery activities related to the emergency. A structured equation model is derived to depict the actions of the community system. The system is described in terms of its resources including the propensity to trigger community action and collaboration among diverse groups. The community is profiled with respect to its ability to respond. The system defines the trigger mechanisms that are considered to be the drivers of collaborative action. A simulation model is presented to enact the system emergencies, community profiles, and collaborative response. The results develop an improved understanding of conditions that engage community collaborative actions as illustrated by examples from community research in the EnRiCH and the C-Change community research projects.
|
Daniel Iland, & Elizabeth Belding. (2016). Dynamic, Data-Driven Optimization of Solar Powered Charging Kiosks for Crisis Response. In A. Tapia, P. Antunes, V.A. Bañuls, K. Moore, & J. Porto (Eds.), ISCRAM 2016 Conference Proceedings ? 13th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management. Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Abstract: In this paper, we describe methodologies for using portable, solar powered charging kiosks to provide mobile phone charging to communities following a disaster. We do not strive to provide a comprehensive alternative to grid power, rather we focus on charging mobile phones and other battery-powered devices. The small size of portable solar systems come with a trade-off: demand for power may exceed battery capacity and solar power generation. In such cases, power output must be regulated in order to maintain the functionality of the system, or the system may be modified to produce more power by adding more solar panels, or to store more power by adding additional batteries. We model user demand for power and kiosk power generation, battery status, and power output to inform the development, deployment, operation and reconfiguration of such kiosks following a disaster.
|
Danilo Freitas, M. B., Adriana Vivacqua, & Paulo Victor Carvalho. (2016). Communication Channels among the various roles during Crisis Response. In A. Tapia, P. Antunes, V.A. Bañuls, K. Moore, & J. Porto (Eds.), ISCRAM 2016 Conference Proceedings ? 13th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management. Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Abstract: During a disaster event there are many actors, some officially, others unofficially involved in the event. This paper explores the relationships between these individuals and between them and the activities performed during the response time. We claim that understand the roles and these relationships is an important starting point for developing information systems for response management. Many systems focus on the supporting activities played by these roles and not on the communication channels that enable a better understanding of the system requirements. This article describes a preliminary study towards this goal.
|
Dario Salza, Edoardo Arnaudo, Giacomo Blanco, & Claudio Rossi. (2022). A 'Glocal' Approach for Real-time Emergency Event Detection in Twitter. In Rob Grace, & Hossein Baharmand (Eds.), ISCRAM 2022 Conference Proceedings – 19th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 570–583). Tarbes, France.
Abstract: Social media like Twitter offer not only an unprecedented amount of user-generated content covering developing emergencies but also act as a collector of news produced by heterogeneous sources, including big and small media companies as well as public authorities. However, this volume, velocity, and variety of data constitute the main value and, at the same time, the key challenge to implement and automatic detection and tracking of independent emergency events from the real-time stream of tweets. Leveraging online clustering and considering both textual and geographical features, we propose, implement, and evaluate an algorithm to automatically detect emergency events applying a ‘glocal’ approach, i.e., offering a global coverage while detecting events at local (municipality level) scale.
|
David F. Merrick, & Tom Duffy. (2013). Utilizing community volunteered information to enhance disaster situational awareness. 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. 858–862). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: Social media allows the public to engage in the disaster response and recovery process in new and exciting ways. Many emergency management agencies in the United States are embracing social media as a new channel for alerts, warnings, and public outreach, but very few are mining the massive amounts of data available for use in disaster response. The research reflected in this paper strives to help emergency management practitioners harness the power of community volunteered information in a way that is still novel in most parts of the country. Field verification and research combined with survey results attempts to identify and solve many of the barriers to adoption that currently exist. By helping practitioners understand the virtues and limitations of this type of data and information, this research will encourage the use of community volunteered information in the emergency operations center.
|
David Mendonça, & Frank Fiedrich. (2004). Design for improvisation in computer-based emergency response systems. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2004 – 1st International Workshop on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 99–104). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: This paper explores the design of training environments in which emergency response professionals can use information technologies to train for responding to unplanned-for situations. This approach – designing for improvisation – is fundamentally different than designing for plan execution. In this paper, we identify three dimensions of this difference and outline a set of research questions that are intended to lead to a better understanding of the role of improvisation in emergency response, as well as how it can be trained for and supported. Both questions are intertwined, since without a firm understanding of how improvisation occurs it is difficult to train for and support it. © Proceedings ISCRAM 2004.
|
David Mendonça, Yao Hu, & Qing Gu. (2007). Cognitive-level support for improvisation in emergency response. 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. 489–496). Delft: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Improvisation-serial and purposeful creativity, exercised under time constraint-is an intensely cognitive endeavor. Accordingly, supporting improvisation requires an understanding of the underlying cognitive processes and an identification of opportunities for support. This paper reports on the development of cognitively-grounded computer-based support for improvisation in a simulated emergency response situation. The application is a computational model which attends to traces of group decision processes, analyzes them, and attempts to achieve fit between its own intentions and those of the group. The current architecture and functioning of the model are discussed, along with an overview of the simulation platform. Current and future workin the areas of model validation and evaluation is described. The results of this work strongly suggest that model-based support for improvisation is possible, but that for the time being will be restricted to synthetic situations, of the kind often used in training exercises.
|
Delia Berrouard, Krisztina Cziner, & Adrian Boukalov. (2006). Emergency scenario user perspective in public safety communication 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. 386–396). Newark, NJ: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: In the area of emergency response communication technologies, consideration of organization structure is critical in order to begin the understanding of user needs and optimize the development of effective technologies. User studies were carried out during the Wireless Deployable Network System European project-WIDENS. This paper discusses the information flow and spatial distribution of different European organizations involved in emergency response for various large-scale scenarios. The paper presents the operational view of emergency situation and related communication flows in several countries. Key results revealed that similarities exist in organizational roles, holding specific responsibilities in terms of location and task. Hierarchical arrangements and information flow may also be similar. However, difficulties lie in the efficient transmission of information due to slow information flow. Spatial distribution of personnel varies for scenarios. Future European studies are recommended for the advancement of our understanding of these newly addressed issues in public safety communication technologies and the needs of users in Europe.
|
Derek Phyn. (2018). New Zealand GIS for Emergency Management (NZGIS4EM): Making GIS and its practitioners integral to emergency management in New Zealand. In Kristin Stock, & Deborah Bunker (Eds.), Proceedings of ISCRAM Asia Pacific 2018: Innovating for Resilience – 1st International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management Asia Pacific. (pp. 223–232). Albany, Auckland, New Zealand: Massey Univeristy.
Abstract: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have often been poorly considered, planned and implemented across New Zealand's emergency management sector. GIS practitioners involved in emergency management events are often the ones who suffer the consequences of this. Recent significant events have reinforced both the need for a nation-wide coordinated, planned and pro-active approach to implementing GIS for emergency management, and the advantages that GIS can offer to the emergency management sector if implemented properly. This paper offers insights into the “grass roots” foundation of a community called New Zealand GIS for Emergency Management (NZGIS4EM) to address these issues. In its founding year (2017/2018) the priority for an interim NZGIS4EM committee has been to establish the foundation of the community, this is primarily administrative projects. Several other subject targeted projects are also underway or planned relating to data, standards, symbology, common operating picture and interoperability. Key challenges for NZGIS4EM relate to a shortage of funding, logistics of physical meetings, current lack of governance and a lack of legal mandate in New Zealand to enforce standards for emergency management. Attention in the sector is now moving towards the implementation of a Common Operating (or Operational) Picture (COP). Key messages that the author believes are pertinent include: that it's not all about the tools; plan big, but then prioritise and implement small; ensure the COP is used BAU; minimal or no training should be required; ensure it is quicker for frontline users; ensure there is a plan B and a plan C if the internet and/or power goes out; identify and lobby agencies who should be the authoritative source of truth for essential data; implement phases of response for information requirements; consider national and/or regional hosting of platforms, and; recognize that real-time crowd sourced data may be the future of intelligence and plan for that.
|
Diana C. Arce Cuesta, Gilbert J. Huber, Jose Orlando Gomes, & Paulo V. R. Carvalho. (2015). A Framework to Capture Incidents during Emergency Situations. 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: Emergency organizations have contingency plans, which define responsibilities, resources, and actions to be performed in an emergency situation. However, unexpected incidents may arise and cause additional difficulty in the emergency control process. The knowledge that team members develop to deal with these incidents and keep the system ?functioning? improves resilience and response and is very valuable for such organizations. This research addresses the problem of how to capture the incidents and knowledge generated during the emergency response through a conceptual framework. The framework defines a structured process for preparation and capture of incidents during an emergency through direct observations, to assist in the capture and proper representation of the incidents to produce knowledge within other practitioners.
|
Dilek Ozceylan Aubrecht, & Michael R. Bartolacci. (2012). The impact and opportunities for wireless communications in chinese disaster planning and 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: Natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, fires as well as those of manmade origins, such as dam breaches, necessitate communication between and among emergency responders, governmental officials, and the impacted populace. As the third largest country in terms of area and first in terms of population, China is no stranger to natural and manmade disasters of varying kinds. Until recently, the country had no central focus on dealing with such events and allowed local officials for the most part to plan and carry out all of the activities involved in disaster planning and management. Advances in the Chinese economy and more of a nationalist slant on policies have attempted to broaden the planning scope and management across the country with varying results. The deployment of wireless communications across China has assisted in disaster planning and management activities, but inconsistent policies and a haphazard approach to its deployment have hindered its ability to fully aid such activities. With a population of more than 1.3 billion (2010 Census) and its wide geography, China is one of the most natural disaster-affected countries in the world. Many natural disasters occur in China frequently and often result in severe damage and loss of life. In response to these events, several strategies for emergency management should be implemented, but in particular the integration of the deployment of wireless networks throughout the rural parts of the country with disaster/emergency planning for the same areas should be undertaken. © 2012 ISCRAM.
|
Dilek Ozceylan, & Erman Coskun. (2008). Defining critical success factors for National Emergency Management Model and supporting the model with information systems. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 376–383). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Natural or man-made disasters frequently occur in different countries and disaster types and consequences might differ immensely depending on that country's unique characteristics. While probability of a man-made disaster occurrence will be high for technologically advanced countries as a result of using technology in almost every aspect of daily life, probability of natural disaster occurrence will be dependent on geological, geographical, and climate related factors. Based on their different risk types and levels, each nation should create their own National Emergency Management Model (NEMM) and because of country specific conditions each plan must be unique. Thus, for each country NEMM should be focusing on different factors which are important and should show that country the importance list of factors. As a result, countries may better distribute their limited resources to reach optimum emergency management plan and execution. In this study, our goal is to three fold. Our first goal is to come up with full list of categories and factors which are important for a successful National Emergency Management Model. In order to achieve this goal, we determined our categories and factors based on our analysis of previous disasters and literature review. The second goal is to determine the importance level of each category and defining critical success factors for different countries. For this purpose, we are planning to use experts from different countries. This part of study is still underway. Finally, we analyze how information systems might be utilized for each category and factors to support a better National Emergency Management Model. This is a first step of a multi-step research.
|
