The need for operational sustainability management of infrastructures is described in the context of emergency response. Emergency response organizations are faced with complex, unprecedented events with the potential for catastrophic losses. Advanced computing and communications technologies provide the potential to reduce this complexity by facilitating information and data processing. Integr...

Humanitarian emergencies, including complex emergencies associated with fragile states or areas of conflict, affect millions of persons worldwide. Such emergencies threaten global health security and have complicated but predictable effects on public health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emergency Response and Recovery Branch (ERRB) (Division of Global Health Protection, ...

In this paper we describe the approach adopted and experiences gained during a project to develop a general architecture that aims to harness advanced sensor, modelling and Grid technologies to assist emergency responders in tackling emergencies (specifically fire emergencies). Here we focus on the command and control aspects of this architecture, and in particular, on a query-based approach th...

We developed a mathematical model to compare various emergency responses in the event of an airborne anthrax attack. The system consists of an atmospheric dispersion model, an age-dependent dose-response model, a disease progression model, and a set of spatially distributed two-stage queueing systems consisting of antibiotic distribution and hospital care. Our results underscore the need for th...

Background: Emergency call centres, commonly known as “112” or “911”, are a crucial part of modern infrastructure. The location of the emergency, any related data, and good GIS support are required for their efficient operations. The location in particular is a vital piece of information but nevertheless often not obtained automatically at all or with insufficient accuracy, thus limiting both t...

This paper describes our work in progress on an approach and technology for providing integrated data access in situational awareness applications – particularly for disaster and emergency response. The key new aspect of our work is an approach where information aggregation, processing, and integration capabilities are offered as a service to any new application builder. Further, we provide a f...

The FireGrid project defines a vision whereby computational fire simulation tools are linked to real-time information derived from sensors in a building, providing potentially valuable information to an end user in terms of the current fire conditions, and, via steered models, their possible evolution. This paper outlines the “steering” of the simulation by the sensor data, and demonstrates the...

Traffic injuries cause a heavy burden on society in most motorized countries. Pre-hospital and hospital trauma care may have a potential to reduce these losses. By tradition the pre-hospital ambulance care has not until the last decades been integrated in the medical sector organization in Sweden. Nowadays it is regarded as the extended arm of trauma care. Improved qualification level to Regist...

Effective communication among first responders during response to natural and human-made large-scale catastrophes has increased tremendously during the last decade. However, most efforts to achieve a higher degree of effectiveness in communication lack synergy between the environment and the technology involved to support first responders operations. This article presents a natural and intuitiv...