Search results for "Disaster Response"

Enhancing Disaster Response for Hazardous Materials Using Emerging Technologies: The Role of AI and a Research Agenda

2019

Despite all efforts like the introduction of new training methods and personal protective equipment, the need to reduce the number of First Responders (FRs) fatalities and injuries remains. Reports show that advances in technology have not yet resulted in protecting FRs from injuries, health impacts, and odorless toxic gases effectively. Currently, there are emerging technologies that can be exploited and applied in emergency management settings to improve FRs protection. The aim of this paper is threefold: First, to conduct scenario analysis and situations that currently threat the first responders. Second, to conduct gap analysis concerning the new technology needs in relations to the pro…

Digital Volunteers in Disaster Response: Accessibility Challenges

2019

The emergence of the Digital Humanitarian Volunteer (DHV) movements when disaster strikes have drawn the attention of researchers and practitioners in the emergency management and humanitarian domain. While there are established players in this rapidly developing field, there are still unresolved challenges, including accessibility of their digital tools and platforms. The purposes of this paper are twofold. First, it describes the background, impact and future potential of the DHV movement, and discusses the importance of universal design for the digital tools and platforms used for crowdsourcing of crisis information. Second, this paper shows how lack of concern for universal design and a…

Session details: Data for good - disaster response and resilience

2018

Insights from a Simulation Model of Disaster Response: Generalization and Action Points

2016

In a prior paper we presented a system dynamics model that simulates responder behavior in a Norwegian landslide. The model shows how a set of vicious feedback loops caused by following standard organizational procedures that do not fit the disaster situation initially increases errors in response. Eventually learning and sensemaking in an improvisation/experimentation process leads to new emergent dynamics whereby the loops act virtuously. In this paper we aim to generalize this initial study by explaining in more detail how the model can describe large scale disaster responses of different types and how it relates to the wider disaster response literature. We discuss what types of levers,…

Designing for Networked Community Resilience

2016

Abstract Communities have been described to be at the heart of the preparedness for and the response to disasters. The increasing connectedness has made communities more vulnerable for their dependence on a complex network of critical infrastructures. At the same time, this very connectedness has the potential to enable communities to self-organise, engage, and connect with other communities to improve their resilience. While the pathway to more resilience is promising and has many advocates, the response to crises and disasters, time and again reveals the challenges related to (i) ad-hoc switching from preparedness to response; (ii) ad-hoc connecting professional responders, communities, v…

Risk Accelerators in Disasters

2014

Published version of a chapter in the book: Advanced Information Systems Engineering. Also available from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07881-6_2 Modern societies are increasingly threatened by disasters that require rapid response through ad-hoc collaboration among a variety of actors and organizations. The complexity within and across today's societal, economic and environmental systems defies accurate predictions and assessments of damages, humanitarian needs, and the impact of aid. Yet, decision-makers need to plan, manage and execute aid response under conditions of high uncertainty while being prepared for further disruptions and failures. This paper argues tha…

Communication Platform for Disaster Response

2016

The present research proposes an information platform for enhanced communication and information sharing in municipalities struck by disasters. Once a disaster happens, collecting and sharing information with and among citizens is the most important tasks for municipalities. However, empirical research of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 revealed a marked lack of tools supporting municipal communication and data sharing activities at the initial stage. A smartphone and tablet based application was subsequently developed and evaluated in the field as a means of first response in future disasters. The application is based on the notion of frugality, which proved to be very useful in th…

Modeling the escalation/de-escalation of response operation levels in disaster response networks using hierarchical Colored Petri Nets (CPN) approach

2018

In emergency situations, the first responders need to act promptly to situations, while the disaster management authorities' response might not be at the same speed. Delays by disaster management authorities had a direct impact on response operations led response teams to the shift away from command and control structures to net-centric ones. This paper is part of a study to examine patterns of emerging organizational relations and coordination structures in disaster response operations. Understanding coordination patterns in disaster chaos can help to integrate those patterns in the planning and execution in the modern disaster management operations. We use dynamic modeling methods to anal…

A Framework to Improve the Disaster Response Through a Knowledge-Based Multi-Agent System

2017

The disaster response still faces problems of collaboration due to lack of policies concerning the information exchange during the response. Moreover, plans are prepared to respond to a disaster, but drills to apply them are limited and do not allow to determine their efficiency and conflicts with other organizations. This paper presents a framework allowing for different organizations involving in the disaster response to assess their collaboration through its simulation using an explicit representation of their knowledge. This framework is based on a multi-agent system composed of three generic agent models to represent the organizational structure of disaster response. The decision-makin…

Beyond early: Decision support for improved typhoon warning systems

2015

International audience; Warnings can help prevent damage and harm if they are issued timely and provide information that help responders and population to adequately prepare for the disaster to come. Today, there are many indicator and sensor systems that are designed to reduce disaster risks, or issue early warnings. In this paper we analyze the different systems in the light of the initial decisions that need to be made in the response to sudden onset disasters. We outline challenges of current practices and methods, and provide an agenda for future research.To illustrate our approach, we present a case study of Typhoon Haiyan. Although meteorological services had issued warnings; relief …