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Stephen C. Fortier, & Ioannis M. Dokas. (2008). Setting the specification framework of an Early Warning System using IDEF0 and information modeling. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 441–450). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Our goal is to develop an Early Warning System for an engineering system with a special interest in applying this to a material recovery facility. This on-going research points out that there is no clear definition of what Early Warning Systems are. A literature search for Early Warning Systems identifies hundred of thousands hits (Buchanan-Smith, 1999; Davies, Buchanan-Smith, Lambert, 1991). Almost all of the references had to do with financial systems for third world countries, tracking the destructive nature of violent conflicts that led to human suffering, or systems for syndromic surveillance. The goal of our research, and of this paper, is to define a framework for creating a specification that can be considered as the basis for the development of any Early Warning System-specifically for engineering systems. Therefore, we will describe Early Warning Systems and its requirements and specifications. Based on specification patterns, we have developed an abstract model of an Early Warning System; and developed an IDEF0 model of a material recovery facility that provides the framework for specifying an Early Warning System. The Early Warning System is then specified using information modeling.
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Elizabeth Avery Gomez, Katia Passerini, & Karen Hare. (2006). Public health crisis management: Community level roles and communication options. In M. T. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2006 – 3rd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 435–443). Newark, NJ: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: Crisis management efforts in the United States public health sector aim to prepare and protect the life of an individual, family or group against a health-related event. These efforts span governmental, nongovernmental and private sectors. The need for coordination between these organizations has never been more apparent. A solution will depend heavily on standardized communication protocols using information and communication technology (ICT). Numerous initiatives are currently addressing the needs of our nation with respect to homeland security and public health, yet remain in the early stages for the nongovernmental sector. The emphasis of our research is at the local level where the governmental sector extends to the nongovernmental sector (NGO), particularly community outreach. Our analysis of the local community suggests focusing on the management of communication during public health crises to better understand the complexities and variations presented in these communities. Leveraging experiences from media-technology literature findings and emergency-response efforts, we seek to identify a framework and tools to enable effective communication for those public health practitioners who serve as front-line responders to public health crises. The major contributions of this research will be to extend the use of information systems and mobile technology to the local United States public health communities to increase effective communication between organizations, while providing a state of readiness for homeland security related events.
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Qing Gu, & David Mendonça. (2005). Patterns of group information-seeking in a simulated emergency response environment. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2005 – 2nd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 109–116). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: Groups in emergency response environment may be confronted with problems that cannot be solved by following predefined procedures. They must therefore engage in a collective search for relevant information, cooperating and collaborating as they move towards the deadline. Information technologies and expertise may help shape group information seeking and determine its effectiveness. By understanding how response personnel search for information in emergencies and extending the findings to determine demands on information systems, we may begin to understand how to support and train for skillful information seeking in emergency situations. Accordingly, this research evaluates the impact of decision support systems and member expertise on group information-seeking behavior in a simulated emergency response environment. The results of the evaluation are then used to identify how information technologies may further support information seeking in emergency response.
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Jonas Landgren. (2005). Shared use of information technology in emergency response work: Results from a field experiment. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2005 – 2nd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 35–41). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: This paper presents results from a field experiment of IT-use in emergency response work of a fire crew. A prototype has been developed to probe for instances of sensemaking supported by IT-use in such work. The findings have been analyzed in relation to research on design of emergency management information systems and sensemaking theory. Key findings from the field experiment suggest that there is a potential conflict between the role-based emergency management information systems and the shared use of information technology of first responders. Further it is advocated that prototypes should be used to explore the extrinsic of the work practice difficult to uncover using only direct-observation or interviews.
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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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