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The rest of this paper has the following structure.
The next section describes current and relevant
background related with the topic. Then the next
section describes with detail the proposed
technology. The following section explains a
complete example of a real experience of the system.
In the next section we present the most relevant
results. Then we discuss some conclusions and we
outline several future lines to work on.
2 BACKGROUND
The main issues in designing, implementing and
using this kind of Information Systems have to deal
with Management of complex, dynamic and not
precise information (Turoff et al, 1996), with the
necessary collaboration between different types of
organization located at different geographic places
(Catarci et al., 2008)( Yang et al., 2009).
Open source and freeware software is more and
more needed for such kind of situations. Sahana
(Currion et al., 2007) is a free and open source
disaster management system developed in Sri Lanka
following the disaster Tsunami in 2004. The main
characteristics of Sahana are: open-access approach,
low cost deployment and easy adaptability, free and
open source.
In any case a solution should take into account the
following statement (Carver et al., 2007) “Building
the computer as part of the emergency management
team assures that people continue to do the things
they do well, supported by the technology, not
driven by it”.
3 TECHNOLOGY FOR
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
This Project has analysed the current available
technologies and has defined a low cost
technological model, flexible, able to work with
different operating systems and with different
connectivity platforms for information data
exchange in emergency environments.
To meet these needs we have decided:
• To implement several cross-platform clients
with a common thread for data transmission
based in the use of Web URL queries both for
sending and receiving information
• To use the least possible bandwidth, sending
only the essential information
• To use open and free software so far as possible
to avoid licence costs at the deployment time
• To design simple and efficient user interfaces
for capturing and visualizing information,
answering to the needs of the specialised
technicians in emergencies.
• Every client has to catch (and/or visualize) the
information in the best way possible in order to
be helpful in taking decisions.
• The information may need to be consolidated at
different levels (terminal, base, coordination
centre, etc) and among different organizations.
4 ONE EXAMPLE: THE CASE OF
THE RUNNING BULLS
We have chosen one real example (in information
management for emergencies), to implement and test
one soft solution based on our previous ideas: the
management of the sanitary transport during the
running bulls of Pamplona. This management
implies 8 primary care points, more than 15
ambulances, 2 coordination centres and (at least) 2
hospitals.
To catch all the needed information we use a graphic
and intuitive system that does not require typing any
information to be transmitted; through a simple
interface the final user (sanitary staff at the primary
care points) can express quickly (by clicking) the
local needs for ambulances indicating
symptomatology, age range and sex. These demands
will be solved between the 2 coordination centres
simultaneously and will inform to the local operators
at the run of the results of the demands.
One of the principal requirements the system has to
meet is to be able to work in real time and to allow
every device to be on-line using the different
connections available in every area. It is similar to
an emergency situation because it is a small area
crowded (both with people and with mobile devices,
mostly phones), where several medical incidences
happen (some of them need sanitary transportation
to hospitals) in a short time interval (between 5-10
minutes). The scenario is therefore a valid one to test
the system.
Using the PDA, through a tactile and easy to use
interface, the transfer is requested and at the same
time this information is sent to the Red Cross centre
indicating as stated before sex, age range,
symptomatology and part of the body concerned and
cause (see figure 1).
LOW-COST & LOW-BANDWITH INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE - The Case of the
Bull-Running
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