Amro Al-Akkad, & Zimmermann, A. (2012). Survey: ICT-supported public participation in disasters. 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: In an increasingly networked society citizens at disaster sites utilize information and communication technology (ICT) to communicate needs or to share information. In order to understand better emergent possibilities and implications of applying ICT for supporting public participation in disasters, we surveyed 57 respondents regarding several key user aspects as perceived usefulness, socially related issues, or deployment. Surprisingly, our results show a clear tendency to use a disaster specific application instead of using everyday services as facebook or Twitter. However, such application poses the risk to loose its focus fading slowly away after once downloading it. Further study is needed to understand if these results are representative regarding public society. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Linda Katrine Andresen, & Erik G. Nilsson. (2014). Finding the best devices for emergency responders in Norway – an empirical study. 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. 110–119). University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University.
Abstract: In this paper we present the results from four empirical studies where we investigate the most appropriate devices for high-ranking emergency leaders – termed commanders in this paper – working close to the scene of incident, usually outside. The studies apply different methods including interviews, questionnaires and usability tests to investigate the technology used by commanders in the agencies today, their motivation for using new technology, as well as their needs for new devices. Three of the studies involve commanders from the police, the ambulance service and the fire and rescue agency in Norway. Devices with different screen sizes ranging from 4,3“ to 40” were used or discussed in the studies. The main conclusion from all the studies is a very clear preference for tablets. We did however identify difference between the agencies regarding the preferred size of an “ideal” tablet, as well as wishes for using more than one device.
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Valerio De Rubeis, Paola Sbarra, Diego Sorrentino, & Patrizia Tosi. (2009). Web based macroseismic survey: Fast information exchange and elaboration of seismic intensity effects in Italy. 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: A renewed method of macroseismic survey, based on voluntary collaboration through Internet, is running at Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) since June 2007. The macroseismic questionnaire is addressed to a single non-specialist person; reported effects are statistically analyzed to extrapolate Mercalli-Cancani-Sieberg and European Macroseismic Scale intensity referred to that observer. Maps of macroseismic intensity are displayed online in almost real time and are continuously updated. The aim of the questionnaire is to evaluate seismic effects as felt by the compiler. The final result is the definition of a particular intensity degree, with the evaluation of the associated uncertainty. Results of medium-low magnitude earthquakes are here presented showing the ability of the method in giving fast and interesting results. Effects reported in questionnaires coming from towns are analyzed in deep and assigned intensities are compared with those derived from traditional macroseismic survey, showing the reliability of webbased method.
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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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Soraia Felicio, Viviane S. R. Silva, André Dargains, Paulo Roberto Azevedo Souza, Felippe Sampaio, Paulo V. R. Carvalho, et al. (2014). Stop disasters game experiment with elementary school students in Rio de Janeiro: Building safety culture. 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. 585–591). University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University.
Abstract: Currently, the city of Rio de Janeiro is is in total evidence, hosting important events such as the Pope's Francis' visit in 2013, the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016. In order to make the population aware, of some environmental problems this article was produced to analyze what factors people consider dangerous. In 2011, Rio de Janeiro went through difficult times, caused by one of the biggest floods seen in the city which ended up partly destroying cities of the state's the mountain region. Kids from aged 10 to 13 years from a high school in Rio were invited to participate in a study and they had to answer questionnaires before and after playing the game. From the results obtained, we analyzed how the game “Stop Disasters” developed by the by the UN can help create awareness and learning on how to behave in flooding situations at an accelerated rate.
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Adam Flizikowski, Witold Holubowicz, Anna Stachowicz, Laura Hokkanen, Taina Kurki, Nina Päivinen, et al. (2014). Social media in crisis management – The iSAR+ project survey. 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. 707–711). University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University.
Abstract: Social media together with still growing social media communities has become a powerful and promising solution in crisis and emergency management. Previous crisis events have proved that social media and mobile technologies used by citizens (widely) and public services (to some extent) have contributed to the post-crisis relief efforts. The iSAR+ EU FP7 project aims at providing solutions empowering citizens and PPDR (Public Protection and Disaster Relief) organizations in online and mobile communications for the purpose of crisis management especially in search and rescue operations. This paper presents the results of survey aiming at identification of preliminary end-user requirements in the close interworking with end-users across Europe.
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Lucy T. Gunawan, Siska Fitrianie, Willem-Paul Brinkman, & Mark A. Neerincx. (2012). Utilizing the potential of the affected population and prevalent mobile technology during disaster response: Propositions from a literature survey. 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: Despite the growing awareness of the untapped potential of the affected population in a disaster situation, their inclusion in a disaster management is extremely limited. This study aims to survey the literature to see whether utilizing the affected people and prevalent mobile technology can be used during disaster response. The idea is to provide the affected with a way to lead themselves to safety and empower them to serve as distributed active sources of information. This way, those people will reach safety by themselves, while at the same time helping to construct a clear image of the disaster situation without burdening the already overwhelmed emergency services. This study examines knowledge derived from disaster sociology, draws on experience from recent disasters, and extrapolates current technological solutions. By establishing that such a solution is feasible, it offers a basis for empirical studies on a mobile technology that can be used during disaster response. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Bernd Hellingrath, & Adam Widera. (2011). Survey on major challenges 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: In this work we present the results of a survey on major challenges in humanitarian logistics. The survey was conducted among logistics managers of relief organizations, logistic service providers, and universities investigating in humanitarian logistics. The following issue areas were consulted: (1) Information and Technology, (2) Processes, Organization, Coordination, (3) Infrastructure, (4) Politics, Government. The results in the first issue area focus mainly on needs for action in the context of the transparency, compatibility, and functionality of IT-systems for humanitarian logistics. The transferability of classical and the establishment of specific concepts of logistics and supply chain management were identified as an important challenge in the second issue area. The need for an improved information situation was noticed within the areas “Infrastructure” and “Politics, Government”. Additionally, it can be highlighted that the assessments of the three questioned groups differ in important points, although a common ground for further research was identified.
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Beibei Hu, Jan Hidders, & Philipp Cimiano. (2010). Towards context-based information delivery to police officers: A questionnaire-based requirements elicitation study. 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 the area of information system design, the development of context-aware systems which can provide relevant information in a context-driven fashion to support mobile users in crisis management tasks represents a great challenge. Motivated by the fact that police officers are often overwhelmed by too much information, the goal of the MOSAIC project (a multi-officer system of agents for informed crisis control) is to support mobile police officers by a system which delivers contextualized information that is relevant to the task at hand. In order to elicit the information requirements of police officers who are involved in crisis situations, a questionnaire-based requirements elicitation study has been carried out in the context of the work described here. The results mainly shed light on the situation-specific information requirements of police officers in certain scenarios. The design requirements that follow from our study have clearly the potential to guide the design of context-based information delivery systems for users involved in critical situations such as the police officers we target. Our findings thus offer an important contribution to the field of information system design for crisis management.
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Jeremy Hutchings. (2006). Developing performance measures as part of an integrated approach to conservation management of cultural heritage assets. In M. T. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2006 – 3rd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 362–375). Newark, NJ: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: For sustainable care of cultural heritage it is essential to set accurate goals. However, the difficulty involved in establishing what is accurate in any given circumstance is often highly underestimated. Unbalanced decision making based on partial consideration of the situation surrounding a cultural heritage asset can at best result in inefficient use of resources and at worst will lead to its rapid loss. But the balance of risk against benefit is not straightforward, the impact of certain activities are far easier to quantify than others. Consequently, the adoption of a well balanced approach that considers all activities equally within the same framework is the key to providing appropriate and sustainable levels of protection. The development of an appropriate and systematic methodology offers a resolution to this problem. The outcome will be a suite of performance indicators assigned to each activity within a multivariate management framework. This paper describes the development and validation of such a methodology and the current status of the author's research.
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Melissa M. Kelley, Bindu Tharian, & Kimberley I. Shoaf. (2011). Delivering health messages using traditional and new media: Communication preferences of california residents during the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak. 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 March 2009, a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus emerged from Mexico. The pandemic resulted in a surge of media attention in which a large volume of information was communicated via multiple sources and channels, both traditional and new. In order to better understand the publics perceptions and utilization of health information provided, California residents were surveyed using a mailed questionnaire. Results showed most respondents felt they had received enough information about the outbreak. The study also found participants preferred conventional communication sources, such as television and newspapers, over new media, such websites. Although, there were some statistically significant differences between information source usage by age as well as by education. Even though respondents reported using a variety of sources, as a whole, they were unsure of their accuracy, trustworthiness or usefulness. Further study is needed to understand if these results are representative of experiences in other states and countries.
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Edward Mahinda, & Brian Whitworth. (2004). Evaluating flexibility and reliability in emergency response information 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. 93–98). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: Flexibility, variously known as adaptability, tailorability, and customizability, has long been recognized as important in information system (IS) success. Reliability has known value in IS for the resulting predictability it bestows on a system. However increasing flexibility can increase possible paths for system breakdown, and so contribute to failure, i.e. increasing flexibility can reduce reliability. Reliability and flexibility seem in design “tension”, as one creates change and the other resists it. The combination of reliability and flexibility has been called “ robustness”, and it seems a desirable integration particularly for emergency response systems. However typically these two areas are studied separately. Our approach to evaluating the combination of reliability and flexibility is to define two distinct requirements that neither overlap nor contradict, and can be assessed by system users. A questionnaire instrument for users is proposed for measurement of the flexibility and reliability of a system. © Proceedings ISCRAM 2004.
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Maurice McGinley, Andrew Turk, & David Bennett. (2006). Design criteria for public emergency warning 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. 154–163). Newark, NJ: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: This paper describes the development of a public emergency messaging system in Western Australia. A set of design criteria were identified by a review of relevant published literature, a survey of current practice in Australia, and consultation with local stakeholders. The system should support: Multiple Recipients, Multiple Channels, Multiple Hazards, Multiple Stakeholders, Multiple Senders, Multiple Platforms, and Write Once Message Composition. A prototype system was built according to these design criteria, based on the Common Alerting Protocol version 1.0. The design was validated in trials simulating messages sent during a tropical cyclone and a bushfire. A total of 56 trial participants from identified stakeholder groups were surveyed with regard to their experience of the prototype system. Overall, the prototype system functioned successfully and participants reported high levels of satisfaction. The paper describes this research project and the initial stages of the subsequent development of a production system, called APECS.
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Paula Mostert, Bartel A. Van De Walle, Koen Milis, & Jan Vandijck. (2005). The role of IT in crisis management exercising, training and planning in Belgian and Dutch Companies: A survey. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2005 – 2nd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 131–133). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: We report the findings of a crisis management survey on the role of IT in the crisis exercising, training and planning activities among companies in 6 different industries in two neighbouring European countries, Belgium and the Netherlands, having at least 50 employees. The survey was sent to 1450 Dutch and 1245 Belgian companies, 245 of which were returned, resulting in a response rate of 9%. The results of the survey show that the role of IT in these activities in both countries is very limited.
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Christine Owen, Jan Douglas, & Gregory Hickey. (2008). Information flow and teamwork in Incident Control Centers. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 742–751). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: This paper reports research in progress into a study of information flow and teamwork in Incident Management Teams (IMTs) in Australia. The research project, funded by the Bushfire Co-operative Research Centre. The overall research design includes interviews with experienced personnel, observations of real-time incidents and training simulations and a national questionnaire of incident management practices. Data reported in this conference session will focus on a sample of observation data conducted in two training simulations of a wildfire incident. Observations were video recorded and key IMT members wore lapel microphones. Video data has been coded for use of artifacts (e.g., maps, status boards) and room movement. Audio data has been coded for by the quantity and quality of interactions within and between IMT functions. The presentation aims to contribute to an understanding of what enables and constrains effective teamwork and information flow within Incident Control Centers (ICCs) in Australia.
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Eli Rohn. (2007). A survey of schema standards and portals for emergency management and collaboration. 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. 263–269). Delft: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: We survey several emergency management related data structures and portals designed or adopted by standard bodies such as Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), as well as standards designed or adopted by government agencies in the US and in the UK. The survey is by no means an exhaustive list of such standards and portals, but it gives a fair representation of the current state of affairs and resources to practitioners and researchers alike.
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Sophia B. Liu, & Leysia Palen. (2009). Spatiotemporal mashups: A survey of current tools to inform next generation crisis support. 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: Developments in information and communication technology (ICT) have adjusted the opportunities for spatial and temporal representations of data, possibly permitting the simultaneous visualization of how different regions and populations are affected during large-scale emergencies and crises. We surveyed 13 crisis-related mashups to derive some high-level design directions to guide the design and testing of next generation crisis support tools. The current web mashups offer a new way of looking at how crises are spatiotemporally ordered. However, since all technology is constrained by limitations of design choice, examining the limits and possibilities of what current design choices afford can inform attributes of what next generation crisis support tools would require.
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David J. Wald. (2013). Adding secondary hazard and ground-truth observations to PAGER's loss modeling. 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. 586–591). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: A rapid, holistic view of earthquake disasters begins with earthquake location and magnitude, alerted by seismic networks. The initial source characteristics, along with any available ground-shaking observations, can be used to rapidly estimate the shaking extent, its severity (e.g., ShakeMap), and its likely impact to society, for example, employing the U.S. Geological Survey's Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response, or PAGER, system. When serous impacts are likely, PAGER's impact-based alerts can, in turn, begin the process of primary response at the local, national, or international level, and the process of reconnaissance via social media, the mainstream media, scientific analyses, and remotely-sensed and ground-truth observations. In this work-in-progress report, we describe our initial efforts to incorporate event-specific ground-truth observations and model secondary ground-failure hazards back into the loss-modeling domain in order to provide a more holistic view each earthquake disaster.
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Yiewi Li., Yu Guo, & Naoya Ito. (2014). An exploration of a social-cognitive framework for improving the human-centric risk communication. 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. 394–398). University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University.
Abstract: With the aim of improving human-centric risk communication, this research in progress paper argues for a social-cognitive perspective focusing on the interaction between laypeople and the information environment. A model is designed to predict laypeople's environmental risk perception and information seeking behavior. Using data from a national online survey (N=1,032), our research is an effort to test the predictive power of the socialcognitive model. Practical implications are also discussed in this paper.
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