Abstract: In this paper we present the Reconstruction and Exploration approach (R&E) and F-REX tool and their applications in a field exercise with the Swedish Rescue Services Agency with the purpose of investigating features needed for a computer supported approach for evaluation of large scale crisis management operations. After the exercise several interviews and one seminar were held to evaluate R&E as a representative for computer supported evaluation approaches for crisis management operations. Initial results indicate that multimedia presentation of key events from an operation can be very valuable not only to stimulate the participants to reflect on their own performance, but also to document and share lessons learned to non-participants.

Abstract: The improvement of disaster resilience in cross-border areas causes special challenges. Involved countries use different structures in their civil protection systems and have to work together facing more difficult conditions than in local incidents. Furthermore, in the past involved countries mainly worked individually and focused on the concerned areas in their territories regardless transnational activities. The project INCA will develop a resilience framework to support decision-makers. The framework will focus on information management, the implementation of volunteers and the needs of citizens who are receiving medical care. Therefore, a case study region on the German-French border was defined and a scenario-based approach will be used to investigate resilience opportunities through disaster collaboration. The tested scenario is a transnational long-lasting power-outage in the German-French region.

Abstract: Pre-positioning of supplies is important to facilitate disaster relief operations, however it is only after a disaster event occurs that the effectiveness of the pre-positioning strategy can be properly assessed. With this in mind, this paper analyzes a risk-based pre-positioning algorithm, developed for the American Red Cross, in the context of its actual performance in the 2013 Colorado Front Range floods. The paper assesses the relative effectiveness of the pre-positioning approach with respect to historical asset placements, and it discusses changes to the model that are necessary to support such comparisons and allow for further model extensions.

Abstract: Data represents an essential resource to the management of emergencies: organizations have been growingly investing in technologies and resources to lever data as an asset before, during, and after disasters and emergencies. However, research on data usage in emergency management remains fragmented, preventing practitioners and scholars from approaching data comprehensively. To address this gap, this research in progress consists of a systematic review of the literature in a two-steps approach: we first propose a socio-technical framework and use it in an exploratory mapping of the main topics covered by the literature. Our preliminary findings suggest that research on data usage primarily focuses on technological opportunities and affordances and, hence, lacks practical implementation aspects in organizations. The expected contribution is double. First, we contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of data usage in emergency management. Second, we propose future avenues for research on data and resilience.

Abstract: Large crisis scenarios involve several actors, acting at the blunt-end of the process, such as rescue team directors, and at the sharp-end, such as firefighters. All of them have different perspectives on the crisis situation, which could be either coherent, alternative or complementary. This heterogeneity of perceptions hinders situational awareness, which is defined as the achievement of an overall picture on the above-mentioned crisis situation. We define knowledge fusion as the process of integrating multiple knowledge entities to produce actionable knowledge, which is consistent, accurate, and useful for the purpose of the analysis. Hence, we present a conceptual modelling approach to gather and integrate knowledge related to large crisis scenarios from locally-distributed sources that can make it actionable. The approach builds on the WAx framework for cyber-socio-technical systems and aims at classifying and coping with the different knowledge entities generated by the involved operators. The conceptual outcomes of the approach are then discussed in terms of open research challenges for knowledge fusion in crisis scenarios.

Abstract: Information security is an important part of almost any kind of Information System. Crisis Management Systems (CMS) are a type of Information System that deals with information which needs to be secure. No matter what kind of crisis, natural disasters, man-made crisis or terrorist attacks, the CMS security should not be compromised. There are many challenges regarding exchange of qualified information and interoperability between various Expert Systems and the CMS. It is important to have strong security in terms of technology, skills, security requirements, sensitivity of information and trust-worthiness (Vural, Ciftcibasi and Inan, 2010). Depending on the type of crisis situation, different sets of security components should be triggered, since the security requirements vary between situations. For example, a terrorist attack has different security requirements in the system compared to a natural disaster or a medical emergency. In this paper, the importance of Information Security in CMS will be discussed. Methods for secure exchange of qualified information are analyzed and a secure and dynamic Crisis Management Information Security System (CMISS) design is introduced. © 2012 ISCRAM.

Abstract: Recent findings from fieldwork conducted at emergency operation centers (EOC) suggest that currently deployed emergency management information systems (EMIS) are not supporting properly the anticipation of individual actions in cooperative work. We present these findings in this paper and introduce joint action theory as an interaction approach to design technologies that explicitly provide for this kind of support. Our main arguments are: (1) contemporary EMIS are affecting negatively cooperative work at EOCs due to their lack of support for the anticipation of individual actions; (2) Available theory that emphasizes the role of anticipation on cooperative work is not impacting on the design of EMIS due to misalignments between the theory and contemporary situations; (3) Joint action theory provides an alternative framework to correct these misalignments; and (4) Joint action theory provides designers of EMIS with guides for an interaction design that supports anticipatory actions in EOCs.

Abstract: In this article the focus is how to train collaboration and communication between emergency authorities in two countries (Norway and Sweden) by using a web-based tool supporting tabletop like exercises. The exercises are accomplished in three steps: Scenario design; exercise design and realization; and evaluation to examine the results of the exercises and for feedback to new scenario designs. The software ties all three steps together. The process is iterative, and involves users from each emergency authority. The preliminary results after two years show that the approach is promising. To be able to better foresee what will happen during an exercise the need for a simulator has appeared as one desirable and possible direction for further research.

Abstract: In this paper ongoing developments regarding the conceptual setup and subsequent implementation logic of a seamless spatio-temporal population dynamics model are presented. The DynaPop model aims at serving as basic input for social impact evaluation in crisis management. In addition to providing the starting point for assessing population exposure dynamics, i.e. the location and number of affected people at different stages during an event, knowledge of spatio-temporal population distribution patterns is also considered crucial for a set of other related aspects in disaster risk and crisis management including evacuation planning and casualty assessment. DynaPop is implemented via a gridded spatial disaggregation approach and integrates previous efforts on spatio-temporal modeling that account for various aspects of population dynamics such as human mobility and activity patterns that are particularly relevant in picturing the highly dynamic daytime situation.

Abstract: Most agree that the innate complexity and uncertainty of a crisis compel the stakeholders to coordinate in a hurry, despite their heterogeneity or the volume of data to process. Supporting their coordination is now possible, thanks to a mediation system combined with big data management tools. The GéNéPi1 project explores this possibility and proposes to improve the generation of collaborative processes offered by the MISE2?s solution. The idea is to increase the number of usable data sources. To do that, in a fixed time-frame, the situation models have to be instantly generated upon sets of raw data. This new methodology holds the key to a new big data era: an age where global understanding reigns.

Abstract: In this paper, we describe AsonMaps, a platform for collection, aggregation, visualization and analysis of near real-time, geolocated quantifiable information from a variety of heterogeneous social media outlets in order to provide emergency responders and other coordinating federal agencies not only with the means of listening to the affected population, but also to be able to incorporate this data into geophysical and probabilistic disaster forecast models that guide their response actions. Hurricane Sandy disaster is examined as a use-case scenario discussing the different types of quantifiable information that can be extracted from Instagram and Twitter.

Abstract: Critical Infrastructure (CI) failures are aggravated by cascading effects due to interdependencies between
different infrastructure systems and with emergency management. Findings of the German, BMBF-funded
research project ?CIRMin? highlight needs for concrete assessments of such interdependencies. Driven by
challenges of limited data and knowledge accessibility, the developed approach integrates qualitative
information from expert interviews and discussions with quantitative, place-based analyses in three selected
German cities and an adjacent county.
This paper particularly discusses how the mixed methods approach has been operationalized. Based on
anonymized findings, it provides a comprehensive guidance to interdependency analysis, from survey and
categorization of system elements and interrelations, their possible mutual impacts, to zooming into selected
dependencies through GIS mapping. This facilitates reliably assessing the need for maintenance of critical
functionalities in crisis situations, available resources, auxiliary powers, and optimization of response time.

Abstract: During large-scale crisis events special emergency management structures are put in place in order to execute administrative-strategic and/or technical-tactical functions for potentially large geographical areas. The adequacy of information systems and the communication capabilities within such management structures largely determine the quality of situation awareness and are thus crucial for the effectiveness and efficiency of the emergency managers' work. In this field, this paper makes a threefold contribution: In the first part we provide a description of the organizational structure and the tasks in an emergency operation center (EOC) from a practitioner's perspective. Based on this primer, in the second part we propose four guidelines which help to design human-computer interfaces, especially adequate smart room technology, for this domain. Third, we present a system we designed along these guidelines. We specifically discuss the introduction of a Digital Map Table with Fovea-Tablett® into an EOC as “smart furniture” supporting both team and individual work.