How situational awareness can be improved by using real-time video? Case: simulated natural disaster at the Viksu 2014 camp
Simola, Jussi; Jokinen, Esa; Rajamäki, Jyri (2015)
North Atlantic University Press
2015
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021092718074
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021092718074
Tiivistelmä
Public safety authorities all over the world have recognized that the lack of interoperability of information and communication technology (ICT) systems limits the effectiveness of rescue operations. Whether natural or man-made, catastrophes can happen at any time, and with no warning. This creates major problems for public safety agencies set up by governments to provide
for public protection and disaster relief (PPDR). The ability of these agencies to cope with unexpected disasters and emergencies of any scale is dependent upon the infrastructure and support that they have in place for their day-to-day operations. Need of overall situational awareness has increased during the past decades. Research data of this case study consists of a literature review, interviews, on-field observations and discussions during an exercise, where a technology providing live video was tested during simulated natural disaster at the Viksu 2014 Young Firefighters Camp. The results of the study indicate that watching real-time video ties persons down and they cannot participate in operational action at the same time. Different departments has their own situation centers, which means that the same real-time picture has to be available for every organization involved. The amount of situation centers affects the distribution of resources, organizing and forming of the situational awareness. A command center requires more than one person to manage situational information flow. Responders are usually carrying their own smartphones on the field. Used solutions enable PPDR officials and partners install and deploy applications easily. Applications might allow first responders to use their own smartphones for emergency communications in situations where communication with primary network becomes difficult. Decision-makers must establish priorities for response in large-scale disaster when the total demand for rescue services is greater than the PPDR organization´s capacity to respond. Distributed real-time video improves decision support systems by allowing command center to allocate resources in the right proportion.
for public protection and disaster relief (PPDR). The ability of these agencies to cope with unexpected disasters and emergencies of any scale is dependent upon the infrastructure and support that they have in place for their day-to-day operations. Need of overall situational awareness has increased during the past decades. Research data of this case study consists of a literature review, interviews, on-field observations and discussions during an exercise, where a technology providing live video was tested during simulated natural disaster at the Viksu 2014 Young Firefighters Camp. The results of the study indicate that watching real-time video ties persons down and they cannot participate in operational action at the same time. Different departments has their own situation centers, which means that the same real-time picture has to be available for every organization involved. The amount of situation centers affects the distribution of resources, organizing and forming of the situational awareness. A command center requires more than one person to manage situational information flow. Responders are usually carrying their own smartphones on the field. Used solutions enable PPDR officials and partners install and deploy applications easily. Applications might allow first responders to use their own smartphones for emergency communications in situations where communication with primary network becomes difficult. Decision-makers must establish priorities for response in large-scale disaster when the total demand for rescue services is greater than the PPDR organization´s capacity to respond. Distributed real-time video improves decision support systems by allowing command center to allocate resources in the right proportion.