André Dittrich, & Christian Lucas. (2013). A step towards real-time analysis of major disaster events based on tweets. 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. 868–874). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: The most popular micro blogging platform Twitter has been the topic of a variety of research papers related to disaster and crisis management. As an essential first step and basis for a real-time methodology to exploit Twitter for event detection, localization and ultimately semantic content analysis, a functional model to describe the amount of tweets during a day has been developed. It was derived from a corpus of messages in an exemplary area of investigation. To satisfy the different daily behavior on particular days, two types of days are distinguished in this paper. Moreover, keyword-adjusted data is used to point out the potential of semantic tweet analysis in following steps. The consideration of spatial event descriptions in relevant tweets could significantly improve and accelerate the perception of a disaster. The results from the conducted tests demonstrate the capability of the functional model to detect events with significant social impact in Twitter data.
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Soussan Djamasbi, Eleanor T. Loiacono, & Yitzhak Mendelson. (2010). Affect feedback during crisis and its role in improving IS utilization. In C. Zobel B. T. S. French (Ed.), ISCRAM 2010 – 7th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: Defining Crisis Management 3.0, Proceedings. Seattle, WA: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: This research looks at a portion of a larger research question, which is does including affect feedback into an existing 911 call taking process improve IS utilization? The first step is to look at the impact of affect feedback in a controlled environment so that possible issues that could arise can be mitigated early on before actual implementation in a call center is performed. This paper focuses on the first step, a controlled laboratory experiment, which is explained in the methodology section of this paper.
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Anton Donner, Thomas Greiner-Mai, & Christine Adler. (2012). Challenge patient dispatching in mass casualty incidents. 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: Efficient management of mass casualty incidents is complex, since regular emergency medical services structures have to be switched to a temporary “disaster mode” involving additional operational and tactical structures. Most of the relevant decisions have to be taken on-site in a provisional and chaotic environment. Data gathering about affected persons is one side of the coin; the other side is on-site patient dispatching requiring information exchange with the regular emergency call center and destination hospitals. In this paper we extend a previous conference contribution about the research project e-Triage to the aspect of patient data and on-site patient dispatching. Our considerations reflect the situation in Germany, which deserves from our point of view substantial harmonization. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Magiswary Dorasamy, & Murali Raman. (2011). Information systems to support disaster planning and response: Problem diagnosis and research gap analysis. 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: There is significant gap in the literature and past research on Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) in the domain of disasters. This PhD research work is an action research to design and implement a web-based knowledge management system that aims to fill this theoretical gap in KMS for disasters and to improve the disaster planning and response efforts within an institutional context. The diagnostic stage results imply that the organisation can benefit from the implementation of an information system to support its disaster planning and response efforts. Current scenario at the State Crisis and Security Council (SCSC) in Malaysia revealed some real challenges pertaining to communication, coordination and knowledge processes between SCSC and its district level officers (DO). The proposition of this research is that a well-defined knowledge management system can successfully support disaster planning and response effort in organizations.
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Magiswary Dorasamy, Murali Raman, & Maniam Kaliannan. (2014). Evaluating CEMAS in simulated environment to support disaster management challenges. In and P.C. Shih. L. Plotnick M. S. P. S.R. Hiltz (Ed.), ISCRAM 2014 Conference Proceedings – 11th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 444–453). University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University.
Abstract: Researchers and emergency management system designers constantly find ways to produce suitable systems that have best fit between technology, and tasks. However, there is significant gap in the literature on designing information system that places greater emphasis on situational qualities. We posit that situational qualities are as important as information system success qualities such as system quality, information/knowledge quality and service quality. This research work aimed to fill this theoretical gap in designing IS for disaster management and to contribute towards guiding design decisions for future emergency management information systems development. A prototype system called CEMAS was designed and developed to support current challenges in disaster management. The underlying guiding theory for CEMAS was situational qualities interweaved within information system success factors in the form of knowledge management system. This paper presents the evaluation results of CEMAS in a simulated environment for flood.
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Douglas A. Samuelson, Matthew Parker, Austin Zimmerman, Loren Miller, Stephen Guerin, Joshua Thorp, et al. (2008). Agent-based simulations of mass egress after Improvised Explosive Device attacks. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 59–70). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: For the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, we developed agent-based computer simulation models of mass egress from a stadium and a subway station following one or more attacks with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs.) Anti-IED countermeasures we modeled included improved guidance to exits, baffles to absorb shock and shrapnel, and, for the stadium, egress onto the playing field. We found improved real-time information systems that provide better guidance to exits would substantially expedite egress and could reduce secondary (trampling and crush) casualties. Our results indicate that models like these can be useful aids to selecting countermeasures, and for training, preparation and exercises. We also discuss the unusual problems such models pose for real-time event management and for validation and evaluation.
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Jill L. Drury, Amanda Anganes, Heather Byrne, Maria C. Casipe, Roger Dejean, Simone Hill, et al. (2012). Badge-primed decision making. 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: We have been investigating new decision support methods for emergency responders. Most recently, we have added to our decision support prototype the concept of “badges”: symbols that cue decision makers to the top-ranked option(s) that are the recommended alternatives for a particular decision. This paper provides the rationale for badges, a description of the initial implementation, results from our first experiment with badges, and a discussion of the next steps. As a report on work-in-progress, the primary contribution of this paper is the description of the concept of badges and its proposed use for emergency response decision making. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Jill L. Drury, Gary L. Klein, Mark Pfaff, & Steven O. Entezari. (2012). Establishing collaborative option awareness during crisis 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: This paper presents empirical results of the use of a novel decision support prototype for emergency response situations, which was designed to enhance the understanding of the relative desirability of one potential course of action versus another. We have termed this understanding “option awareness.” In particular, this paper describes the process employed by pairs of experiment participants while performing emergency responder roles using different types of “decision space” visualizations to help them collaborate on decisions. We examined the decision making process via a detailed analysis of the communication between the cooperating team members. The results yield implications for design approaches for visualizing option awareness. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Jill L. Drury, Loretta More, Mark Pfaff, & Gary L. Klein. (2009). A principled method of scenario design for testing emergency response decision-making. 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: We are investigating decision aids that present potential courses of action available to emergency responders. To determine whether these aids improve decision quality, however, we first developed test scenarios that were challenging in well-understood ways to ensure testing under the full breadth of representative decision-making situations. We devised a three-step method of developing scenarios: define the decision space, determine the cost components of each decision's potential consequences based on the principles of Robust Decision Making, then choose conflicting pairs of cost components (e.g., a small fire, implying low property damage, in a densely inhabited area, which implies high personal injury). In a validation of this approach, experiment participants made decisions faster in non-ambiguous cases versus cases that included this principled introduction of ambiguity. Our Principled Ambiguity Method of scenario design is also appropriate for other domains as long as they can be analyzed in terms of costs of decision alternatives.
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Geneviève Dubé, Chelsea Kramer, François Vachon, & Sébastien Tremblay. (2011). Measuring the impact of a collaborative planning support system on crisis management. 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: Crisis management (CM) is an aspect of command and control characterized by complexity, uncertainty, and severe time pressure. To address these challenges, CM teams can use collaborative work support systems (CWSS) to help plan their intervention and coordination activities. However, the use of CWSS is not necessarily beneficial and in some cases, can impede more than augment performance. Hence, it is essential to understand the impact of a CWSS on team performance and CM teamwork. We have developed a methodology to assess the effectiveness of CWSS by comparing the use of an interactive Smartboard with that of a traditional topographic map during team planning activities. To do so, a dynamic CM situation is simulated using a forest firefighting functional simulation – the C3Fire microworld. We compared two groups of participants on the basis of performance, communication, coordination efficiency, and planning quality. Based on a preliminary analysis, in comparison to maps, the use of a CWSS seems to be beneficial to planning activities and CM coordination. At this point the main contribution of the current on-going project is to provide a method and metrics for the objective assessment of new technology in the context of CM.
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Duco N. Ferro, Jeroen M. Valk, & Alfons H. Salden. (2007). A robust coalition formation framework for mobile surveillance incident 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. 479–488). Delft: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Given unexpected incidents on routes of guards that check security objects, like banks, one of the most challenging problems is still how to support improvisation by security personnel in taking decisions to prevent or resolve such incidents. Another as important associated problem is how a security company can naturally take advantage of its existing and novel knowledge about its organizational and ICT infrastructures, and the introduction of a decision support system to help leverage of improvisation by humans. To tackle all this, on the one hand we present a dynamic coalition formation framework that allows the (re)configurations of agents that are associated with joint tasks in situational contexts to be evaluated by appropriate value functions. On the other hand, we present a dynamic scale-space paradigm that allows a security company to distill ranked lists of robust context-dependent reconfigurations at critical scales. We highlight the merits of ASK-ASSIST as a solution to the problem of supporting human improvisation.
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Tom Duffy, Chris Baber, & Neville Stanton. (2013). Measuring collaborative sensemaking. 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. 561–565). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: Problems of collaborative sensemaking are evident in major incident response where sharing salient information is key to the shared understanding of the situation. In this paper we propose that differences in sensemaking performance can be captured through quantitative methods derived from consideration of network structure and information diffusion as the group collaborates to achieve consensus in a problem-solving task. We present analysis from a large international study in which groups of people collaborate to solve an intelligence analysis problem. Our initial analysis suggests that 'edge' groups are able to collaborate more efficiently and perform better than those which have a hierarchical control structure.
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Tom Duffy, Richard McMaster, Chris Baber, & Robert Houghton. (2012). Towards an ontology broker to improve cross-agency sharing in emergency 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: Major incidents and disasters tend to be highly complex, contain high levels of uncertainty and may often force official responders to set aside their standard operating procedures and work collaboratively with a range of agencies and actors on the ground. Prior work has shown that establishing clear lines of communication and maintaining a shared understanding across organisational boundaries can be challenging to achieve, particularly in stressful and unusual circumstances. In the present paper we discuss ongoing work into specifying a meta-process for facilitating communication and collaboration based on the observation that common themes that emerge in communication within and across organisational boundaries can subsequently be tracked and built into an Ontology Broker. This work draws on experimental work in our laboratory, observations made in emergency control environments and, emphasised in this paper, lessons learned in the 2005 London bombings. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Julie Dugdale, Bernard Pavard, Nico Pallamin, Mehdi El Jed, & Laurent Maugan. (2004). Emergency fire incident training in a virtual world. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2004 – 1st International Workshop on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 167–172). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: The effectiveness of 'close to reality' training simulations is due to the fact that they provide a sense of immersion and allow several participants to interact naturally. However, they are expensive, time-consuming, difficult to organise and have a limited scope. We present a virtual reality training simulator which overcomes these disadvantages. We describe the approach and methodology and conclude with a discussion of the most crucial challenges when developing such a system. In this paper we would like to introduce the notion of cultural technologies which produce a sense of social as well as cultural immersion. We will discuss the main ingredients of such an immersion, in particular the notion of situated virtual interaction (how interactions in a virtual world can be comparable with human interactions in real situations). We also discuss on the role of interfaces (real time motion capture) and emotional expression in the design of such environments. © Proceedings ISCRAM 2004.
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Jerome A. Duval. (2008). WebEOC Resource Manager® a collaborative framework: Developing standard Resource Management processes for disaster relief. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (127). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: I will demonstrate ESi's WebEOC Resource Manager® tool, which enables users to catalog and deploy resources in a manner that is compliant with FEMA's National Incident Management System (NIMS). The system is a proven and tested deployed in over 25 states throughout the U.S. The tool provides real-time data sharing in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.
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Sukumar Dwarkanath, & Michael Daconta. (2006). Emergency services enterprise framework: A service-oriented approach. In M. T. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2006 – 3rd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 298–304). Newark, NJ: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: The current Emergency Services landscape is characterized by a number of systems and networks that are isolated in nature, thus making information sharing impractical, if not impossible. Such an environment does not promote ease of information sharing, and each incident highlights the need for efficient collaboration and coordination, and the need for a holistic internetwork-a series of virtual interconnected networks-approach. In other words, it requires an overall framework that looks at safety as an overall enterprise, (albeit one with thousands of independent agency owners), with the strategic goal to facilitate greater collaboration and effectiveness of operations, and to ensure a streamlined and efficient prevention of, response to, and recovery from all-hazards. 1 Adopting a Service-Oriented enterprise approach is extremely useful and has number of advantages in such an environment. This paper defines a framework-in the context of an enterprise-an envisioned Emergency Services Enterprise Framework, and identifies the key elements of this framework.
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Sukumar Dwarkanath, & Denis Gusty. (2010). Information sharing: A strategic approach. 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 purpose of this paper is to provide and recommend a strategic approach for implementation of information sharing initiatives. While such an approach offers a number of benefits, as a primary benefit, it provides a way to measure and monitor the performance of such initiatives, irrespective of their scope, whether they are regional, state, or federal efforts. The first section of the paper presents a framework for alignment among information sharing initiatives; the second section builds on this framework and outlines a roadmap for an assessment methodology for such initiatives.
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E. Martina Granholm. (2017). What about IT? Crisis Exercises for Multiple Skills. In eds Aurélie Montarnal Matthieu Lauras Chihab Hanachi F. B. Tina Comes (Ed.), Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response And Management (pp. 341–352). Albi, France: Iscram.
Abstract: Cooperation and interaction demands digital skills. In an agile context, there is no time for learning while doing, implicating that many of the skills need to be practiced beforehand. Since exercises are one way of enhancing skills needed in crisis situations, it is important to know what skills are practiced during the exercises. This review aims to understand what skills have been practiced during exercises conducted in Sweden between 2010 and 2014. Data was obtained from 15 evaluations of exercises including multiple actors. Most exercises practiced collaboration, communication, information and shared situation awareness skills. Results showed that 4 out of 15 had a specific goal in terms of technology use. Exercises with explicit technology goals are effective as a way to change opinions about the tool in question. The participants requests additional exercises specifically targeting routines and the use of technological tools.
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Paul S. Earle, & David J. Wald. (2006). Rapid post-earthquake information and assessment tools from the U.S. geological survey national earthquake information center. In M. T. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2006 – 3rd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 402–408). Newark, NJ: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: A suite of post-earthquake information products and assessment tools are produced and distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC). These products range from the rapid determination of earthquake magnitude and location to tools that provide situational awareness following earthquake catastrophes. The NEIC distributes earthquake location, magnitude, and supporting information through many sources including, text message, pager, and the Internet (e-mail, web-pages and RSS feeds). To aid in the rapid determination of an earthquake's impact, the NEIC has developed tools to 1) map the observed shaking intensity reported from the region affected by the earthquake (Community Internet Intensity Maps), and 2) quantify the number of people exposed to severe shaking (Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response).
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Catherine Easton. (2014). The digital divide, inclusion and access for disabled people in IT supported emergency response systems: A UK and EU-based analysis. In and P.C. Shih. L. Plotnick M. S. P. S.R. Hiltz (Ed.), ISCRAM 2014 Conference Proceedings – 11th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 275–278). University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University.
Abstract: This short insights paper examines IT Supported Emergency Response systems from the perspective of the digital divide and access for disabled people. It is argued that inclusive design is often overlooked in the development of emergency systems and this can lead to increased marginalisation of certain societal groups, such as disabled people and older people. Given the importance of equality of provision in relation to emergency responses there is a need to examine accessibility policy in this area to determine whether it enables the equal participation of all. This is important both in relation to the ability to access key information in an emergency situation and to participate in crowdsourced data generation to help in the targeting of resources, both at the time of an emergency and in subsequent planning. This insights paper takes both a practical and theoretical approach and focuses upon key policies emanating from the EU and UK.
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John Edmonds, Louiqa Raschid, Hassan Sayyadi, & Shanchan Wu. (2010). Exploiting social media to provide humanitarian users with event search and recommendations. 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 decision makers rely on timely and accurate information for decision-making. Since satisfactory disaster response is key to building public trust and confidence, they need to monitor and track disaster related discourse to gauge public perception and to avert public relations disasters. Social media, e.g., the blogosphere, has empowered citizens to provide content and has increased information diversity. The challenge is to make sense of this diverse and noisy data and interpret results in context. For example, search results can be clustered around an event or occurrence at some geo-location and time. Personalization and recommendations can further filter content and focus on the most relevant and important data. We apply our research on event detection and recommendation to support event based search and apply it to a large blog collection (blog.spinn3r.com).
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Wendy A. Edwards, Awais Vaid, & Ian S. Brooks. (2010). INDICATOR: An open-source cyberenvironment for biosurveillance. 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: 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.
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Aslak Wegner Eide, Ida Maria Haugstveit, Ragnhild Halvorsrud, & María Borén. (2013). Inter-organizational collaboration structures during emergency response: A case study. 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. 94–104). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: This paper examines the problem of achieving efficient inter-organizational collaboration during emergency response. The authors interviewed 11 representatives from Norwegian emergency agencies and supporting organizations about a hypothetical scenario involving a large-scale chemical incident. The interviews resulted in the identification and categorization of more than 45 actors that would be involved in the response effort, clarification of the individual capabilities and knowledge those actors would possess, and descriptions of how they would interact and communicate with each other. The results illustrate the complexity and necessity of achieving inter-organizational collaboration by showing how capabilities and knowledge are distributed and communicated across different actors, and suggest that such communications are mainly verbal. Based on this, the paper discusses challenges and opportunities for improving inter-organizational collaboration in the future.
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Gary Eifried. (2005). A model describing a response to a terrorism incident. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2005 – 2nd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 125–127). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: Understanding how the response to an incident of terrorism involving a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) transpires is essential to understanding the necessary flow of information within that response. A model describing incident response functions overlaid on a realistic timeline is presented.
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Nour El Mawas, & Jean-Pierre Cahier. (2013). Towards a knowledge-intensive serious game for training emergency medical services. 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. 135–139). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: In the preparedness activity for disasters and emergency management, serious games can help in training medical first responders by providing emergency simulations which are always available, safer and cheaper than real-world simulations. However, serious games for training emergency medical services (EMS) must take into account the presence of different actors in crisis situation like police and firefighters and the high volume of (medical as well as non-medical) expert knowledge. The aim of our approach is not only to acquire technical skills but also to develop the capability to act, to cooperate and coordinate in non-procedurally previewed emergency situations. This paper proposes both (i) a detailed prototype of a serious game's scenario that supports instructors in the training in EMS and (ii) an adaptive infrastructure A.R.G.I.L.E (Architecture for Representations, Games, Interactions, and Learning among Experts). We illustrate our ideas on an example of a complex road accident. This work is done with the collaboration of a Hospital Emergency Department implied with us in a R&D project.
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