D61 Crisis Management Implementation Report – SRHE/SRPCBA

The RETINA project was an important step for the optimization of emergency procedures and operations in the Azores laboratory. A project that incorporates a pure and innovative scientific development like the incorporation of new methods of research and the scientific coupling of tree types of emergency events and, at the same time, tests the introduction of this tools in the civil protection agents and organizations, was an opportunity to tie links between the scientists and civil protection organizations, and to find an common language between them.

As result of the project, the SRPCBA took some important lessons that changed the old operative procedures. The main changes in the SRPCBA organization procedure were:

- optimization of the management of different agents that are part of the emergency occurrence, like medical teams, police, fire brigades, scientists;

- mobilization of scientists through the field in the occurrence scenario;

- utilization of the software developed by XISTOS in the preparation of occurrence scenarios in Povoação village (see Deliverable D60 below, updated version);

- Improvement in the communication chain between different in field agents;

- Awareness of maps has the common language between scientists and civil protection agents;

- Utilization of maps to share scientific information between all agents;

- Improved awareness of the existing hazards at Povoação county, the Azorean laboratory

The most important conclusion of this project is that scientists and civil protection organizations are part of emergency procedures, and a construction of a link between the two parts is an optimization of all related with emergency, in all their phases: from planning to mitigation. That was an objective for the RETINA, and it was fully accomplished in the SRPCBA experience. The SRPCBA this days has a direct link with CVUA, trough our communication network, and we are able to receive important scientific information in a language that is understandable, through maps. Through RETINA we were able to improve the understanding from the scientific community the needs of civil protection.

By other hand, the change of experiences between all partners of the project was the main reason for the success of the project.

For all this reasons we conclude that:

- It’s essential that the European Union should be aware of the results of this project and acknowledge its importance;

- This model should be encouraged by the vast and important institution that the European Union is, and by this improve all civil protection actions in all European space;

- It’s essential that the link between scientific community and civil protection is maintained or developed.

D60 Computer Simulation Software for Crisis Management installed at SRPCBA – SRHE/SRPCBA

In order to obtain quick responses at the Azorean civil protection operations centre, XISTOS designed, under the SRPCBA and CVUA definitions, a crisis management software. The development of this software was completed at M12, and after that, some updates were made. This software was installed on the SRPCBA operation centre. This software has the ability to simulate an earthquake event at Povoação village, the regional laboratory at the Azores for the RETINA project, and to provide tools for the handling of this event. To better explain the abilities of this software (from a user’s point a view) we will separate this report in two parts: the earthquake simulation part; and the crisis management part.

Earthquake simulation

An event could be defined in two ways: through a saved scenario; or through a set of parameters. Those parameters are: time and localization of seism (Fig 1). The current update doesn’t allow changing the localization, intensity and frequency of a seismic event, despite the fact that the option is available, but not functional.

Then after, a map of Povoação village shows with a colored grid where each color shows a level of destruction and victims expected (Fig. 2).

The interesting part of it is that the resulting scenario runs by, since there is a “time management” option. We can change the relation between a current minute and a minute on the simulator (Fig. 3)

An older version of the software would allow running an aftershock on the created scenario, but this current version still doesn’t have that option available. The important part of the simulation is that we can locate the type of damage, and the number of victims in each cell of the grid, and by this way to optimize the crisis management.

Crisis Management

The XISTOS software provides some tools for the management of a simulated earthquake event.

First of all, five users are defined (Fig. 4), and the software provides a network utility. It’s important to have these five levels, because actions are defined for each one, like in a real situation.

The main differences are that one lever has the ability to manage the simulation, while others just receive messages and define actions.

The actions available on this simulation are simple, like to send an ambulance to a cell where are injuries, to define a heliport (Fig. 5), or to implement a security area (Fig. 6). All updates made are available on real time to other users, so this way, all coordinated efforts are easy to understand to all users, and only the real responsible for each area can act as properly.

Finally, the other important part of the crisis management is the information flow, through messages. All users can send and receive messages, with the ability to filter information, where priorities are defined (Fig. 7).

Conclusion

The software shows a great deal of potential, mainly because of the dynamic sense of the simulation. Time is running and all happens on the earthquake scenario showing you how to deal in a real situation. It’s interesting too the fact that five different users can access and handle the same scenario, without overriding their instructions.

But despite this awareness, the software isn’t an important tool and the SRPCBA, mainly because there wasn’t a fully operational version. Lot of options, despite the fact that they are available, aren’t functional, and don’t allow the personnel of SRPCBA to take this tool at his full potential.

By other hand, it is very important to deciders know not only the effects on buildings but on the communications network as well. In order to optimize all rescue operations, it’s decisive to obtain all blocks in the communications network, what roads we should expect to be damaged, and how critical is the damage. In a future version of this kind of software, this information should be available, despite the fact that now we are talking a different kind modeling.

Finally, as a last conclusion, it’s an important fact that this software is “closed”. It’s hard to integrate other useful geographic information. GIS is working on the basis of different sources information integration, and you can’t export or export information easily into this software. A coordinated emergency situation is, at his core, a large input and output of information, from all sources, and their easy integration in an only and common GIS software for all emergency partners is the easy and better way to share information.