Prerequisites for data sharing in emergency management : joint analysis using a real-time role-playing exercise approach

Abstract: This thesisexplains how semi-coordinated or separated utilization ofinformation and communication technologies may affect collaborativework between different emergency management organizations, andtheir capabilities to perform joint tasks during emergencyresponses. Another aim is to explore the modeling of emergencymanagement and data collection methods with respect to utilizationof these technologies. The theoretical basis for the thesisconsists of system science, cognitive system engineering,communication, informatics, simulation, emergency management, andcommand and control. Important notions are the joint cognitivesystems concept and the communication infrastructure concept. Thecase study method and the real-time role-playing exercise approachare the main methodological approaches. On the basis of two mainstudies, geospatial data and related systems are studied as anexample. Study I focuses on emergency managementorganizations- abilities to collaborate effectively byassessing their communication infrastructure. Study II, on theother hand, highlights the emerging effects in use of data incollaborative work when responding to a forest fire scenario. Theresults from the studies, and from the general work conducted andpresented here, show that the semi-coordinated or separatedutilization of the technologies affects (a) how well theorganizations can collaborate, (b) the capabilities to carry outcollaborative tasks during crises and disasters, and (c) to whatextent the technology can be used in real-life situations. Theresults also show that the joint cognitive system notion and thereal-time role-playing exercise approach provided new ways toconceptualize and study the emergency management and the commandand control system.