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An introduction to Information Architecture and Emergency Response technologies presented at the NYC Office of Emergency Management for the Women's History Month Breakfast. This presentation is a companion to my IA Summit presentation Information Architecture and Emergency Response, which goes into more detail on the kinds of technologies used in Emergency Response.
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The Information Architecture of
Emergency Response
Noreen Y. Whysel
Womens History Month Breakfast
NYC Office of Emergency Management
March 28, 2012
Hyatt Regency Hotel after Hurricane KatrinaSource: Bill Haber, AP
Hyatt Regency Serves as a ShelterSource: Gary-Coronado-Palm-Beach-Post
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
• Information Architecture: The structural design of
shared information environments
• Information Architecture Institute: global
organization that supports individuals and
organizations specializing in the design and
construction of shared information environment
Touchstones of
Emergency Response
Common Elements of an
Emergency Response System
• People
• Measurement tools/devices
• Data/Information Systems
• Communication
• Response
People (and organizations)
Emergency Management
Information Systems
First RespondersPerson in Need
Emergency Response System
Mental Model for an
Emergency Response System
Something
BAD
happens
Someone
calls for help
Emergency
responder
arrives
Aid is given Forms,
Forms,
Forms
(Based loosely on Mental Models by Indy Young, Rosenfeld Media)
Emergency Response Incident Model D
ev
elo
p P
oli
cie
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Dri
lls
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lati
on
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Mo
nit
or
con
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Inci
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nt
occ
urs
Dis
pa
tch
re
spo
nse
un
its
Est
ab
lish
co
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d
Cre
ate
re
stri
cte
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es
De
term
ine
ha
zard
s
Loca
te v
icti
m/s
urv
ivo
rs
Mit
iga
te h
aza
rds
Ass
ista
nce
Forms Forms Forms Forms Forms Forms
Maps Maps Maps Maps Maps Maps
Comm CommCommCommCommComm
Ap
pre
he
nsi
on
Inv
est
iga
tio
n
Planning Event Dispatch Assessment Rescue/
Recovery
Post-Event
De
bri
efi
ng
CIMS: Citywide Incident
Management System
• Roles and responsibilities
• Chain of command by core competency
• Common processes
• Common vocabularies
• Common organizational structure
• Allows for Continuity of Operations
• Complies with National Incident Management System
• Compatible with other states and federal agency systems
Case Study:
Hudson River Parkway
Wall Collapse
Hudson River Parkway Wall Collapse
Henry Hudson Parkway Wall Collapses, May 12, 2005Source: The Gothamist
Elements of Response to a Wall
Collapse Incident
• People – victims, OEM, NYPD, FDNY, DOT, DOS, DOB, CAU, CERT, Tri-Borough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, Columbia University, Salvation Army, Red Cross, private hauling
• Measurement tool/devices – seismographic sensors, thermal and satellite imaging, search dogs
• Data/Information Systems – seismographic data, GIS, infrastructure maps, pictometry
• Communication – radio communications, 911, ICC-1 mayoral briefings, agency planning meetings
• Response – rescue, recovery, Citywide Incident Management System (CIMS), safety zone, evacuation, debris removal, stability tests, community assistance/temporary housing
Emergency Response
Technologies
OEM Emergency Response
Technologies
• Maps and Imaging
• Communications
• Information Systems
• Sensors
• Vehicles
Maps and Imaging
• NYCMAP: Basemap of NYC
including streets, building
footprint, some infrastructure
• Infrastructure maps: Department
of Buildings, Con Ed (power
company), Department of
Environmental Protection,
Department of Transportation
• LIDAR imaging
• Thermal imaging
• Aerial and satellite imagery
Compare to Google Maps
Communications
• Telephony, 911, 311, 511 (MTA Info)
• NYCWiN: Wireless network
• Mobile phones/devices
• Radio
• Websites, SMS, Twitter, Facebook
• Ready NY Guides
• Emergency Communications Transformation Program (E911)
With land lines down and mobile
systems overloaded, the BlackBerry
phone was one of the few unimpeded
methods of communication that worked
in the aftermath of 9/11.
Information Systems
• Citywide Asset and Logistics Management System
• Unified Victim Identification System
• Situational Awareness for Field Response System
• Next Generation 911
Source:
Vehicles
Mobile CIMS Center
Mobile Data CenterInteragency Command Center
Interagency Communications Vehicle
Mobile Data Center (2003)
Sensors
• Handheld GPS devices
• Seismographic activity, thermal readings
• Structural integrity
• Biometric (portable fingerprint scanner, etc.)
• Chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear (CBRN)
• Motion sensors for traffic, road activity
• Cameras
• Dogs (chemical traces, human survivors)
• Eyes and ears
Open Government
Information Policy
• Road Map for the Digital City
• Outlines City’s plans for
– Access
– Open Government
– Public Engagement
– Industry
Open Data Initiatives
Google Crisis Maps
• Best Practices
– Checklists
– Common Alerting
Protocol
• Tools:
– Public Alerts
– Person Finder
– Custom Maps
– Google Earth
– Fusion Tables
– Docs and Spreadsheets
– Google Sites
App Contests and Hackathons
Emergency Management
Future Needs
Digital Tools and First Responders
• Ease-of-use
• Accuracy of Data
• Interoperability
• Compatibility with legacy systems
“Getting away from the ‘technical
user’ mentality and providing
information through tools/interfaces
that first responders are already
familiar with, i.e. Google Maps,
Google Earth, simple apps, etc.”
--Google Earth consultant
“Metadata isn't as key as immediacy
in emergency situations, and accuracy
is important in as much as it helps
make decisions, but in emergencies,
situations are fluid.”
--NY State DOT Employee
Q. What issues are most pressing in providing digital tools to first responders?
Requirements vs Delivery Gaps
• Simplicity/Ease of use (again)
• Coverage
• Redundancy
“The digital designers frequently
come from a complicated
technical mindset that overloads
on the options. Users want
simplicity and familiarity.”
--Google Earth Consultant
Q. Please comment on any gaps between the requirements of digital
applications for first responders and what is delivered by digital designers?
Role of Information Architecture
• Do not employ IAs.
• Employ people who do IA tasks.
“We don't have staff with that title,
but many in engineering and IT that
do attempt to influence it, with a lot
of chaos as a result.”
--MTA Design Manager
“Yes, we employ IAs... broadly
speaking, we have back-end systems
GIS folks who clean up and produce
the RSDA tool, and front-line GIS
folks who report the data, and
produce maps for first-responders.”
--NY State DOT Employee
Q. Please comment on the role of Information Architecture in your practice.
Enhancing Geospatial Applications
• Infrastructure Layer Integration: visualizing water, sewer, electric steam, gas, telecommunications, transit, etc.
• Building Information Management: visualizing building infrastructure and security
• Crowd Sourced Data: engaging the public to provide data to support emergency operations
• Field Data Collection and Communications: On-the-scene data collection by first responders across many agencies
• Common Operating Picture/Situational Awareness: Ability to access and share data in real time across wide geographic areas
Mashup Applications
• Integrating social media with maps and sensors– USGS Earthquake TED system
uses Twitter
– Machine readable Twitter hashtags
• Organizing response via social media– Times Picayune’s Katrina
bulletin board
– Red Cross Joplin Tornado project on Facebook
– OEM Facebook updates
• Handheld applications– Inventory, geolocation
– Language translation
Tweak the Tweet: proposed by
Karen Starbird, PhD student at
University of Colorado, 2009
“Random Hacks of Kindness”
conference was put to use in Haiti.
White Paper, “The Case for Integrating Crisis
Response with Social Media, ” Red Cross
Managing Expectations
• Data format - Does it work with your system? Is the data in a standard format or will it need to be converted for interoperablity?
• Definitions - Make sure the vocabulary used by the data source matches up with your understanding and use. Acronyms and codes can be confusing.
• Licensing - Are there restrictions on how the data can be used or whether it can be shared?
• Cost – Are you prepared for cost of data security and maintenance? Can you economize?
• Users – Do users understand appropriate uses? Do you take into account all uses?
Associations
• Information Architecture Institute
http://iainstitute.org
• Information Architecture Summit
http://iasummit.org
• Usability Professionals
http://upaassoc.org
• Interaction Design Association
http://www.ixda.org
• GISMO
http://www.geography.hunter.edu/gismo
Meetup.com
• The New York City Information Architecture Meetup
• New York Data Visualization and Infographics
• ESRI Dev Meetup
• NY Location-Based Apps Meetup
• NYC OpenStreetMap Enthusiasts
• NYC User Experience Meetup
• NY Tech Meetup
