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Thomas Plagemann, Katrine S. Skjelsvik, Matija Puzar, Aslak Johannessen, Ovidiu Drugan, Vera Goebel, et al. (2008). Cross-layer overlay synchronization in sparse MANETs. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 546–555). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks maintain information in the routing table about reachable nodes. In emergency and rescue operations, human groups play an important role. This is visible at the network level as independent network partitions which are for some time stable before their members change through merging or partitioning. We use the information from stable routing tables to optimize the synchronization of Mediators in a Distributed Event Notification System. In a stable partition each node has the same information, thus a single Mediator can efficiently coordinate the synchronization, while all other Mediators just receive updates. We show in our experiments that just a few seconds are needed until routing tables stabilize and all nodes have a common view of the partition. We present a heuristic to determine the proper time to synchronize. Furthermore, we show how exceptions, like disappearing coordinating Mediators and unexpected messages, can be efficiently handled.
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Heiko Roßnagel, & Olaf Junker. (2010). Evaluation of a mobile emergency management system – A simulation 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: Large public events such as sporting events, concerts, fairs and street festivals are quite common in metropolitan areas. Because of the high frequency of such events and the increasing number of involved parties, those being responsible for the organization and execution have to cope with increasing complexity and shortening time frames for planning and preperation. Because of the high concentration of passengers, unplanned incidents that occur during these public events can have devastating effects and can lead to crises and disasters. Emergency management systems that utilize mobile communication infrastructures can provide prompt information delivery to save human lives. In this paper we propose a system design for mobile emergency management and outline our approach of evaluating this system design using multi-agent based simulation. To make our simulation of passenger movements as realistic as possible we gathered empirical data for a large event as well as for normal rush hour traffic.
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Heiko Roßnagel, Jan Zibuschka, & Olaf Junker. (2011). On the effectiveness of mobile service notification for passenger egress during large public events. 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 contribution we evaluate the effectiveness of mobile services for passenger egress of a train station during a large public event using an agent-based simulation approach. For this simulation we built a virtual replica of the Cologne central train station and collected empirical data on passenger numbers and their movements during a large public event. We simulate several different scenarios and compare the results using key performance indicators, such as time for egress. Our results show that dedicated cell broadcast messages under the described circumstances can be used to decrease evacuation time significantly and that the simulation can be used to quickly investigate the relevant key performance indicators needed to asses and evaluate the effectiveness of different notification and evacuation strategies.
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Anne-Francoise Rutkowski, Willem Van Groenendaal, Bartel A. Van De Walle, & Jan Pol. (2004). Decision support technology to support risk analysis and disaster recovery plan formulation: Towards IT and business continuity. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2004 – 1st International Workshop on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 127–132). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: The paper presents a four-phase action research project that was (and still is) conducted at the department of Information Management Customer Support and Operations (IM\CS&O) of a large multi-national company. The department is in charge of ICT-service continuity and has to produce ICT recovery plans that are integrated with the organization's overall Business Continuity plan. Interviews, Group Support System (GSS) technologies as well as a risk survey have been used to gather information and identify risks and threats. A systematic quantitative classification, measuring the impact of loss of ICT services on the company's business processes in terms of cost and risk will allow in the near future to utilize an economic decision model to prioritize the core activities of training and implementation of a recovery disaster plan. The research has made clear to the involved protagonists the necessity to share information, to develop awareness, and to formulate a shared recovery disaster plan to ensure ICT/business continuity and/or recovery when ICT disruptions occurs. © Proceedings ISCRAM 2004.
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Steven D. Sheetz, Andrea Kavanaugh, Francis Quek, B. Joon Kim, & Szu-Chia Lu. (2009). Expectation of connectedness and cell phone use in crisis. 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 wide distribution of cell phones with messaging, email, and instant-messaging have enabled the emergence of a culture of connectedness among segments of society. One result of this culture is an expectation of availability that exists among members of these social networks. This study explores the potential for this expectation to influence perceptions of using information communications technologies (ICT) during and after a crisis. Online survey and follow-up semi-structured interviews were conducted with Virginia Tech (VT) students, faculty and staff to understand whether expectations of connectedness affected their perceptions of their reach-ability during crises. Participants with higher expectations of connectedness also reported more problems with reach-ability. Those with the most problems with reach-ability differed from those with no reachability problems for many variables including satisfaction with the cell phone service, age, number of calls/text messages, and extroversion. Results suggest these communities consider planning how to use ICT during emergencies.
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Simone Sillem, & Erik(J.W.F.) Wiersma. (2006). Comparing cell broadcast and text messaging for citizens warning. In M. T. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2006 – 3rd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 147–153). Newark, NJ: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: In life-threatening emergencies, citizens need to be warned. The currently used method for citizens warning in The Netherlands is a siren. AT this moment, research is being carried out into using new technologies as an addition to this siren for citizens warning. Modern telecommunication technologies have great potential for informing the public. Especially the use of text-based features of mobile phones is considered for this function. Advantages of such a system are that these technologies overcome problems of hearing the siren and that text-based messages provide possibilities for giving more and more detailed information. In a number of pilot studies, Delft University of Technology has gained experience with the possibilities of these technologies for citizens warning services. This paper compares two text-based mobile phone technologies that can be used for citizens warning as an addition to the siren.
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Bogdan Tatomir, & Leon J.M. Rothkrantz. (2005). Crisis management using mobile ad-hoc wireless networks. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2005 – 2nd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 147–149). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: In this paper we describe a disaster management system. It is assumed that each individual in the field is equipped with a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and that can communicate with other PDAs in the vicinity. Together the PDAs form an ad-hoc network. Users can enter their own observations to the PDA, like the position of victims, or a description of the current situation at particular location (e.g. smoke, emergency exits, traffic congestion). This information is entered in a special iconic language. Reversibly, the PDAs inform the users on the overall current situation of the crisis. In order to come to a shared view of the world, the knowledge that is present in the network has to be shared and fused. The proposed way to communicate is via a shared blackboard. This approach facilitates communication in a time and place independent way.
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Eelco Vriezekolk, Roel Wieringa, & Sandro Etalle. (2011). A new method to assess telecom service availability risks. 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: Protection of society against natural and man-made disasters is high on the societal and political agenda. Effective crisis management is more important than ever. Nowadays, crisis organisations depend crucially on reliable telecom services, and unexpected failure of telecommunication may have serious consequences. In order not to be caught unprepared, crisis organisations should therefore perform a risk assessment on telecom availability. Unfortunately, assessment of availability risks of modern, multi-operator telecom services is difficult; information sources are unreliable, and the relevant information is uncertain and difficult to obtain. This paper describes some of these difficulties, as well as the requirements of availability risk assessment methods for crisis telecommunication services. The paper outlines a new method that can be applied without requiring full knowledge of the physical layout of the telecom infrastructure. This new method relies on telecom service diagrams as a tool for risk analysis and to facilitate dialogue among the analysts.
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Eelco Vriezekolk, Roel Wieringa, & Sandro Etalle. (2012). Design and initial validation ofthe Rastermethod for telecom service availability risk assessment. 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: Crisis organisations depend on telecommunication services; unavailability of these services reduces the effectiveness of crisis response. Crisis organisations should therefore be aware of availability risks, and need a suitable risk assessment method. Such a method needs to be aware of the exceptional circumstances in which crisis organisations operate, and of the commercial structure of modern telecom services. We found that existing risk assessment methods are unsuitable for this problem domain. Hence, crisis organisations do not perform any risk assessment, trust their supplier, or rely on service level agreements, which are not meaningful during crisis situations. We have therefore developed a new risk assessment method, which we call RASTER. We have tested RASTER using a case study at the crisis organisation of a government agency, and improved the method based on the analysis of case results. Our initial validation suggests that the method can yield practical results. © 2012 ISCRAM.
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Ulrich Walder, Thomas Bernoulli, & Thomas Wießflecker. (2009). An indoor positioning system for improved action force command and disaster 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: Managing emergency situations in large buildings and underground structures could be simplified if at any time the positions of on-site emergency crews were available. In this paper a system is proposed which combines inertial measurements of moving persons with building floor plans tagged with information on semantics to achieve a novel level of robust indoor positioning. A speech driven user interface tailored for visualization on head mounted displays makes information easily available for action forces. The system is complemented with a self-configurating communication network based on novel approaches combining mobile ad hoc networks, sensor networks, and professional mobile radio systems to make the locally determined positions available to anybody on-site.
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Hans Zimmermann. (2005). Recent developments in emergency telecommunications. In B. C. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2005 – 2nd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 327–334). Brussels: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: Recent Developments in the telecommunication technology offer a number of additional tools not only for the providers of emergency and disaster response, but may also facilitate early warning. Their application depends, however, on the regulatory framework governing telecommunications and on their appropriateness for the specific requirements in the pre-, peri- and postimpact phases of an event. Telecommunications are a key element for to the success of emergency preparedness and response, and the application of all available technologies and networks saves lives. The recent events in the Indian Ocean Region will have to be the subject of detailed analysis and evaluation of all existing mechanisms, hopefully leading to improvements in the organizational and operational field. First information available already in the immediate aftermath of the events of 26 December 2004 has been applied to the considerations in the present paper.
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Hans Zimmermann. (2006). Availability of technologies versus capabilities of users. In M. T. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2006 – 3rd International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 66–71). Newark, NJ: Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium.
Abstract: The regulatory environment is no longer the primary hindrance to the full application of telecommunications technology in the service of emergency response, disaster prevention and relief, and crisis management. Nowadays the restricting factor is the lack of knowledge about the capabilities, but also the limitations, of the multitude of specialized and of public communication systems. This paper will analyze the situation with the help of some practical examples and will recommend an interdisciplinary multi-stakeholder based approach to an educational concept for emergency and disaster telecommunications.
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