An Ecosystem for Disaster Relief Operations

Abstract

When disasters strike, communications, coordination, and information sharing among the first responders and emergency personnel become critical to the success and efficiency of relief operations, including response and recovery. This article explores the ecosystem of disaster relief operations in three dimensions within the public safety domain -- communications, information sharing, and decision-making - in order to build a solution that will significantly enhance relief operations that take place on the ground immediately after a disaster strikes. It also explores the underlying processes and their interrelationships and identifies strategies for enhanced first responder coordination and response.