About 80% of the world data come from geo-components, and they can be processed under machine learning. It means that data circulated can be localised. Though being of greater importance in search and rescue of people, for example, the team of scientists and researchers Marina Tavira, Josip Peros and Ivan Reciting from the University of Split, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy at the regular CRISPRO webinar hold on 21.10.2021. The scientists added that GIS-based crisis management could take advantage of social network data validation. They are sourcing the system with data from the crowds and managing it by introducing the Virtual Support teams, widely promoted by the unique NGO VOST Europe presented by the “maker” and developer Jorge Gomes, ahead of the international network.
He added that crowdsourcing had been used, with success in several instances. While many groups continue the purely conceptual discussion about the pros and cons of using crowdsourcing in DRR and crowd management, VOST Europe focuses on the cases of successful data gathering to help decision-makers and citizens (African natural disaster case). Social network information crowding can also enable the direct involvement of citizens in the research and investigation processes. For example, they can be asked to share the photos they have taken at a particular place and time concerning a criminal or disaster-related accident. Furthermore, it can foster the citizens’ participation and make them accountable for the environment and communities. As a result, citizens can feel important and helpful, and it can be considered a “democratic” model for illustrating public engagement in disasters or emergencies.
Volunteered geographical information or VGI and remote sensing technologies are basic for modern data aggregation and rapid filtration through machine learning and big data processing. It is extremely important in the interventions referring to the life and health of persons worldwide. Remote sensing data and volunteered geographical information from non-experts collecting and sharing data can be acknowledged as an essential complementary tool of the traditional situational awareness technologies. It refers to the professional capacities of the rescue and searches intervention teams who challenge the physical obstacles in the area affected by the disaster or public disorder incident/riot/unrest. Social-network-based data aggregation can support rescue and emergency planning, especially in the remote or lesser density populated regions such as the Arctic and Barents see areas, outlined Mr Hannu Rantannen, a security expert of the project. “Improving maritime safety in the Arctic Ocean through Ai and Virtual Control Room”. The Barents Rescue Event is an excellent platform for testing and validating technological solutions, and the upcoming one in the fall of 2023 in Bodo Norway, added Hannu Rantanen.
Another physical aspect of the crowd management interventions refers to the CBRN incidents in public spaces, shopping malls, airports or religious places, added Mr Timo Hellenberg, a security expert.
Geo-referencing and geo-positions shall also move from planning and monitoring to intervention support tools for the first responders. It can be useful for disseminating information through the traditional communication channels used during specific interventions.
Rapid processing and data aggregation can also influence the scenarios at the very moment of the reactions. The most popular forms of public crowd management scenarios were presented by Leonard Leso, a Security Analyst with a long 44 years career in the Carabinieri Corps, the military and police force of Italy. He raised attention to the essentials of crowd management: defining the antagonists and lessons learnt, planning for the public order operations, mobile teams setting, training and procedures for public order that can also be enabled by the alert information as an entry point and gets to any rescue situations. Furthermore, spacial recaptured evaluated images involving citizens and extracting reliable data could support the field interventions.
The teams’ preparation is driven by particular national and regional scenarios of potential risks outlined by Jari Honkanen from the Ministry of Interior of Finland. Further, he referred to the leading principles of the Finnish civil protection driven by the comprehensive approach, integrated preparation for peace-time and war-related emergencies, making all actors responsible for carrying out their functions in all security situations, and stressing the pragmatic public/private cooperation, also supported by the military authorities. The territory of Finland is divided into risk classes. The regression model determines four risk levels, and it is based on the number of inhabitants and buildings. The regression model has been calculated according to real house fires and any prognosis for risk level in a square 1 km x 1 km. While the National Risk Assessment outlines 20 scenarios, the sub-national risk assessments are drafted cross-sectorally to represent the region’s municipalities, authorities, businesses, and working groups. The representatives of the National Rescue Platform do provide insights into their communities and reference groups extensively.
Cascading effects and vulnerability of society are essential elements to be tackled by the new call for proposals under Cluster 3, the EU programme for developing security and societal resilience actions. A group of about 25 scientific, policy and first responders‘ organisations called by the CRISPRO network discussed new proposals for 2022. The online consultations were hold on 21st October, 2021. The group assessed their previous experience and highlighted the importance of focusing on pragmatical and applicable tools-developments referring to historical data, online data from social networks, situational awareness and first responders preparedness. The main idea is to tackle cascading effects and multi-hazards paradigm because such models of disaster risk management enable engagement of various forms of vulnerability mitigation measures.
The team will be acting as a non-formal and project-driven team of prominent organisations for challenging models and aspects of disaster risk reduction based on grant opportunities for development.
Social, health and economic vulnerability are critical and though ultimate goals of the policy-driven risk assessment tool under development by the knowledge network CRISPRO. Results from the multi-hazards approach questionnaire delivered by 40 first responders, policy-makers, experts and mayors were presented on 30.09.2021 at the regular CRISPRO webinar, which focused on aspects of resilience.
We can be using modern technologies to draft disaster risk assessments and contingency plans based on scenarios for multiple hazards activation. Professor Dr Manzul Kumar Hazarika, the Director of AIT’s Geoinformatics Center (GIC), unwrapped recent scientific advances to the multi-hazard risk assessment, early warning, emergency mapping and damage assessment, community-based disaster management, and capacity building. He presented the institute’s work promoting the applications of Remote Sensing and GIS in disaster management and related topics. However, recognising the emerging importance of these technologies and the potential future demand for skilled professionals is critical for policy-makers on local, regional, and national levels. By this, we mean that there shall be a change into professional toolbox and competence profiles of people engaged in building the resilience of community and societies for achieving progress.
Risk mapping outlines different hazards that interact with the area’s vulnerability and with the preparedness in the territory is used by the Czech Institute for the Protection of the Population. The cumulated risks are afterwards linked to the preparedness maps that present available sources and means for reaction to a particular event. An upgrade approach is also applied in the Slovak Republic. The comprehensive system of catalogues and attributes of protected interests and areas combines the values of properties to further damage loss calculation of the vulnerability. The Slovakian integrated mapping under development functions as a common management information system referring to all first responders, including rescuers and police, private civil protection units and volunteer organisations.
Participants stressed the resilience aspects of one economic sector that is vastly developing in Europe and rapidly affecting the environment and community public spaces – the tourism sector. Human activities in nature influence the performance of stable models and vice versa. The shift to unexpected meteorological conditions contribute to behaviours changes in the Alps, declared Elena Pede from the Department Interateneo di Scienze, Progetto e Politiche del Territorio / Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, Italy. Needs today are assessed and assigned to the cooperation model.
For doing so, the conditions of exposure, capacity response and vulnerability for protected interests of the community and/or society are explored. In addition, of course, it is of great importance to find protocols and systems meeting the expectations for securing greater protection and mitigation of the potential negative impacts and decreasing the level of risks driven by hazards, disasters, extraordinary events and climate change. Improving the people’s quality of life, the sustainable development of the territories and the cross-border economic and social systems through cooperation on the economy, the environment and the services to citizens shall also be part of the risk assessment from a territorial aspect. Direct impacts refer to the increase of natural hazards, desertification, ecosystems changes, water scarcity, forest fires, hydro-geological and hydraulic instability, etc. we should consider climate change scenarios more and more in spatial and emergency planning. Local authorities are in greater need of adapting the traditional parameters and urban planning policies to the needs of emergency planning, architecture, green spaces distribution, public services, etc.
Empowering socio-economic resilience will support policy-makers in calculating exposure, sensitivity and adaptation costs as crucial for both land-use and emergency planning.
For example, the management of cultural events such as the international pilgrimage route Camino de Santiago requires specific attention by local authorities. Therefore, the CRISPRO assessment tool for mayors and regional policy-makers shall enable them to use practical methods for risk assessment of local events that vastly contribute to change of environment and increase of community vulnerability in terms of emergencies and accidents.
Marta Trueba from the Oficina del Campus Industrial de Ferrol, Universidade da Coruña, Spain, presented a practical risk assessment toolbox concerning the development of a civil protection plan, comprising „specific plans“ covering preparedness measures for challenging one unique event: the Camino and linking it to contingency Planning from trans-regional aspects with Asturias, Castilla and Portugal. The integral role of the protected interests is presented by the individual and group pilgrims, religious spaces, private spaces, public spaces, concerts, events, etc. Thousands of pilgrims, from children to ancient, moving on foot, on the bicycle or horseback, on the wheelchair, all of them heading to Santiago, and the emergency Planning considers different health statuses (ageing, illnesses, health persistence etc.), motivations and weather conditions. For challenging all emergencies raised by the international pilgrim route, the regional authorities convene a temporary protection body as Integral Coordination Center 112 and mobilise groups of volunteers, trained and ready to assist in the case of an emergency along the route.
Training and Knowledge Sharing Platform for First Responders and Educational Tools for students’ and citizens’ awareness and preparedness against Natural and Manmade Disasters and Risks Lessons Learnt from recent Megadisasters in Europe Keynote Speech: Prof. Emmanouloudis D., International Hellenic University Ass. Prof. Chalaris M., International Hellenic UniversityThe role of volunteers in the homicidal disasters Presenter: Dr. Karamanou A., General…
The ILEAnet H2020 project workshop is organised as part of a study led by CEIS-Avisa Partners on how European Law Enforcement Authorities (LEAs) share information in the domains of migration, terrorism, cybercrime, and serious & organised crimes. The study is conducted in the framework of the EU project ILEAnet co-creating a sustainable LEA-practitioners network centered on research & innovation challenges. Keynote speakers:…
Multi-hazards and combined threats‘ trends: presentation of the results from the international survey Public Assessment Tool: Launching a discussion on the CRISPRO support management and evidence-based methods. The event’s focus is a multi-hazard and multi-vulnerability risk assessment tool tackling the complex chain(s) of socio-economic effects scenarios. Scientists and risk management experts will demonstrate applicable practices and approaches…
Table-top exercises models for crowd managementVulnerability in Risk Analyses Would you like to learn how to assess crowd safety risks and identify hazards? We offer a consultative workshop for demonstrating various vulnerability aspects of evacuating, rescuing, and caring for people victims of flood and storm disasters. We are looking for defining standard operational procedures, material…
Dear Friends and Colleagues
While we are used to working on project opportunities and webinars, today, we call for smart ideas and knowledge in support of our Lebanese partner - the first responders’ ambulant centre of the Development Association for Life and Peace, D.L.P. Association in the Aanout, Chouf district.
Following our common endeavour to improve communities’ quality, we can challenge together one real case: Lebanon’s devastating situation.
We welcome any proposal for collecting various material equipment/tools and medical supplies for the first responders’ ambulant centre D.L.P. Association in the Aanout, Chouf, Lebanon. The cash-strapped country has been without a full-fledged government for more than eight months, and riots burst in the streets of Lebanese communities. Moreover, people in remote regions are left without healthcare services, and poverty is rising due to a deep economic crisis compounded with COVID-19.
Should you know how to mobilise knowledge and networks for delivery emergency support of medical supply and medicaments to Lebanon, please share with us.
We can ensure tents, folding beds, blankets, and launch negotiations for air transportation services.
Any of you can contact the Lebanese association directly https://daleel-madani.org/civil-society-directory/association-development-life-and-peace-dlp/about.
How to contribute
• Propose an idea for raising attention to urgent emergency support to Lebanon
• Declare an ability to donate equipment, medical supply, medicaments, etc. related
• Propose logistic solutions
• Propose a global crowdfunding technology/solution that can be launch ASAP
• Help with an international communication campaign
• Network with your national/governmental institutions and ask for any official aid /humanitarian support
• Propose how to connect all native Lebanese partners if you are communicating with grassroots organisations
We are looking forward to your smart and human intact ideas and technological solutions.
contact sdi@sdisk.eu
The Crisis Management Innovation Network Europe (CMINE) is an open, cooperative and inclusive information network for sharing information, experiences, best practice and lessons learned among individuals, crisis management organisations, researcher entities, industry and policy makers throughout Europe and beyond.
CMINE provides a superb window to participate in and observe discussions on innovation and thereby establish an unprecedented sharing of knowledge across all fields of Crisis Management and Disaster Risk Reduction.
CMINE also links stakeholders from existing projects, like H2020 resilient societies projects, networks (CBRNe) and initiatives to reduce repetition and fragmentation whilst encouraging new ideas, and identifying innovative solutions to improve European resilience.
CMINE strives to provide a platform for the Horizon Europe projects and Knowledge Networks under the flag of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
To join simply visit www.cmine.eu and register to become a member. You’ll be asked to provide some basic information regarding your connection with the Crisis Management community and your in!
Please help us improve our knowledge on disaster risk reduction by completing CRISPRO survey on multi-hazards and combined threats with cascading effects related to crisis leadership management.
To develop an Assessment Support System supporting policy and decision-makers in systematising interactions of related sectors/disciplines (intervention areas). It will bring positive effects of a given policy (characterised as one of several management options) are enhanced, and negative impacts across sectors/disciplines are identified and adequately addressed/mitigated.
Natural, technological (man-made) and biological risk management practices require a comprehensive understanding of the interactions and interdependencies of the related natural, technological and societal systems. Risk assessment can be challenging even for the impacts of a single natural hazard on a single facility. This initiative focuses on considering multiple and/or combined hazards and multiple interacting facilities at the same time. One needs to also bear in mind possible further cascading events (e.g. domino accidents) and consequences with cascading impacts (e.g. via business interruption) which requires a comprehensive and multi-vulnerability risk assessment involving complex chain(s) severity considerations.
Almost two thirds of the EU residents (Special Eurobarometer 511b) are aware of the risk of disasters in the regions they live, outlines a survey distributed by the communication unit of DG ECHO. It also shared with the CRISPRO network some exciting news on the EU’s strengthened civil protection, following the adoption of the proposal for a new UCPM legislation by the European Parliament.
Upcoming new legislation on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism
The European Parliament voted on 27 April to strengthen the role of the European Union in crisis management through a legislative revision of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This allows for faster and more effective European solidarity and EU operations in response to large-scale emergencies and disasters that affect several countries at the same time.
At the end of 2020, the European Commission gathered citizens‘ opinions on EU civil protection in the 27 EU Member States. The survey results show clear support for the EU’s role in crisis management, with 84 % of Europeans agreeing that coordinated EU action should be increased to respond more effectively to future disasters and crises. More than 9 in 10 Europeans agree that their country should provide help when a disaster strikes in another EU country that is too big to deal with on their own, a clear sign of support for EU solidarity. The full report, and a specific factsheet on your country are equally available.
3. Awareness raising campaign on EU Civil Protection
To raise awareness about the EU’s role in supporting countries in Europe and worldwide to manage crises DG ECHO has launched a communication campaign via its corporate channels as well as through tailored advertising in seven target countries (AT, DE, FR, IT, LT, RO, SK). DG ECHO’s campaign uses various examples to visualise how the EU and EU Member States teamed up throughout the past months – displaying how the #EUActsTogether.
A virtual centre for the assistance of the Fire and Rescue Service was established in the Czech Republic. The centre is virtually based on tvhasici.cz. It aims to also support the citizens in actively managing the current situation and overcome the most difficult moments. A focus is given to COVID-19 support of experts from psychology, population protection, and medical sectors.
The website was created at the Government Council for Mental Health initiative, which proposed the involvement of the psychological service of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic in the psychological support of the general population.
„Although the tvhasici.cz project is currently focused on the most current topic – tackling the covid-19 epidemic. The teams will enhance the information covering a wide range of security threats and life situations, all to fulfil our long-term efforts, which is to increase preparedness and strengthen citizens‘ resilience, “ adds František Paulus, director of the Institute for the Protection of the Population.
The virtual assistance centre’s deployment enables a broader human-centred approach in disaster management and protection of the population.
The Crisis Management Innovation Network Europe (CMINE) is an open, cooperative and inclusive information network for sharing information, experiences, best practice and lessons learned among individuals, crisis management organisations, researcher entities, industry and policy makers throughout Europe and beyond.