information architecture of emergency response (for designers)

The Information Architecture of

Emergency Response

(for Designers)

Noreen Y. Whysel

NYC IxDA

July 12, 2012

NYC GeoSymposium

2001-2011-2021

Ground Zero, September 11, 2001Source: U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Eric J. Tilford (Wikipedia)

Firefighters, September 11, 2001Source: CNN

Man covered with ashes assisting a woman walking and holding a particle mask to her face, following the

September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, New York CitySource: Don Halesy, Library of Congress (Wikipedia)

Agenda:

• Keynote: Mapping Evidence, Edward Tufte

• 2001: Geospatial tools and techniques in 9/11 response and recovery

• 2001-2011: Pervasive GIS, citywide geospatial implementations and developments

• 2011-2021: Opportunities and challenges for future integration across NYC government

Full Agenda: http://www.convergemag.com/cdg-events/NYCGeoSymposium.html

Office of Emergency Management

Services:

• Plans and prepares for emergencies

• Coordinates emergency response and recovery

• Collects and disseminates emergency information

• Educates the public about preparedness

Personnel:

• Responders

• Planners

• Watch commanders

• Administrative and support staff

Citywide Incident Management System (CIMS)

7 WTC: Emergency Operations Center

• Located close to City Hall and agencies

• GIS software and facilities data

• Evacuation and collapse – Redundant systems were lost or unavailable

Generators

Backup generators

Water supply

Ventilation system

Computer hardware

Telephones

Radios

Uninterruptible power supplies

Schools

Hospitals

Nursing homes

Flood zones

Evacuation routes

Emergency transp. routes

Shelter locations

9/11/01: A Turning Point

• A turning point in the way the City approaches data

access and interoperability of systems

• Catalyst for cooperation and public engagement

• The imperative to improve data flow at least

between agencies was clear

New York City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) set up at Pier 92 on the Hudson River

following the 9/11 attacks.Source: ArcNews

What is an Emergency

Response Sytem?

Common Elements of an

Emergency Response System

• People

• Measurement tools/devices

• Data/Information Systems

• Communication

• Response

Emergency Response System

• Ladder Companies, Engine

Companies, Fire Marshalls,

Special Operations

• In-Car Radio, information

systems, scanners, cameras,

maps

• Temperature, presence of

smoke or other toxic fumes

• 911 call, dispatch, additional

services, reporting

• Fire suppression, rescue,

investigation, EMS

Emergency Response System

National Incident Management System, December 2008Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Emergency Response System

• Mother and baby

• Thermometer

• Temperature reading

• Call to Doctor or 911

• Home treatment, doctor visit

or ambulance

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 Indi Young, Rosenfeld Media)

Emergency Response Incident Model D

eve

lop

Po

licie

s

Dri

lls a

nd

sim

ula

tio

ns

Mo

nit

or

con

dit

ion

s

Inci

de

nt

occ

urs

Dis

pa

tch

re

spo

nse

un

its

Est

ab

lish

co

mm

an

d

Cre

ate

re

stri

cte

d z

on

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

Inve

stig

ati

on

Planning Event Dispatch Assessment Rescue/

Recovery

Post-Event

De

bri

efi

ng

Issu

e W

arn

ing

Ale

rts

CIMS: Citywide Incident

Management System (2005)

• Response Framework– 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

Emergency Response

Technologies

OEM Technologies

• Command Facilities

• Maps and Imaging

• Sensors and Devices

• Communications

• Apps and Information Systems

Command FacilitiesEmergency Operations Center (2006)

Source: NYC Office of Emergency Management, NYC.gov

Command FacilitiesEmergency Operations Center Plan

Podium

GIS

Wa

tch

Co

mm

an

d2

4x7

op

era

tio

n

Situ

ati

on

Ro

om

Transportation

Public Safety

Health and Medical

Human Services and

External Affairs

Utilities

Infrastructure

Private Sector

National/Regional

DoITT, OEM, Verizon,

ConEdison, LIPA, ISO,

NYS Power Association

OEM, DEP, HPD, DDC, DCAS,

US ACE, Parks, DSNY, DOB

gla

ss w

all

gla

ss w

all

OEM, BOMA, Universities,

Consumer Affairs, HANYC,

SIFMA, REBNY, SBS, NYS INS,

NYS Bank, NYSE

FEMA, NYS OEM, WEST, NAS,

SUF, PA OEM, NJSP, OMB,

LAW, NWS, OEM Logistics

DOE, SHA, MOIA, HRA, ARC,

OEM, CUNY, DFTA, CERT,

311, CAU

GNYHA, OCME, HHC, NYS

DOH, VA, REMSCO, EMS,

FDNY

Courts, MTA PD, Sheriff, NYPD,

USCG, NG, FBI, DHS, PAPD,

OEM

TLC, TRANSCOM, PATH, NYS DOT,

OEM, Amtrak, NJT, MNRR, LIRR,

MTA

EO

C M

an

ag

er

Admin

Logistics

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x = OEM staff

OE

M S

taff

x x

Command FacilitiesWatch Command Center (2006)

Command FacilitiesFDNY Emergency Operations Center

Command FacilitiesEnhanced 911 Call Center

Source: New York City Police Department press release, January 5, 2012.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/pr/pr_2012_01_05_psac_911.shtml

Command FacilitiesOEM Mobile Command Centers

Mobile CIMS Center

Mobile Data CenterInteragency Command Center

Interagency Communications Vehicle

Command FacilitiesMobile Data Center (2003)

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

Maps and ImagingNYCityMap (2006)

http://gis.nyc.gov/doitt/nycitymap/

Maps and ImagingLIDAR

LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Images of WTCSource: NOAA/U.S. Army JPSD

For more images see Charting Ground Zero: Ten Years After

http://www.woodwardgallery.net/exhibitions/9_11.html

Maps and ImagingThermal Imaging

WTC – Thermal Imagery, September 16, 2001Source: New York State, Office for Technology (c2001) and EarthData International.

Maps and ImagingOblique Angle Aerial Photography

Sensors and Devices

• Handheld GPS devices

• Field input devices, tablets, digital pens

• Seismographic, thermal sensors

• Biometric (portable fingerprint scanner, etc.)

• Chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear (CBRN)

• Motion sensors for traffic, structural integrity

• Cameras

• Dogs (chemical traces, human survivors)

• Eyes and ears

Sensors and Devices

Source (clockwise): History Channel, Gizmag.com and Lamont Dougherty, AP, HGVI (via bioprepwatch.com),

Adapx.com, Oceanscan-mst.com, LinksPoint.com

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.

CommunicationsEnhanced 911

• Emergency Communications Transformation program introduced in 2004 after the 2003 blackout

• Streamlines emergency call taking, communication and response times via:– Single operator

– Improved texting capabilities

– Geolocation for VoIP/mobile services

– System interoperability

• Public Safety Answering Center– I: Brooklyn (January 2012)

– II: Bronx (estimated 2015)

• Issue: Completed at $1 Billion over budget

CommunicationsEnhanced 911 Call Center

Source: Nashville.gov, Motorola VESTA e911 system.

http://www.nashville.gov/ecc/operations.asp

CommunicationsNext Generation 911

• Standardized interfaces

• Call processing (voice, text, data, multimedia)

• Data integration for routing and handling

• Delivers calls, messages and data to answering points and first responders

• Supports data and video communications

• Provides broadband services to public safety answering points and first responders

CommunicationsNYC Wireless Network

• NYCWiN network allows all the pieces to fit together

• Access to city, state and federal databases and GIS

• Warrant and license checks

• Mobile ID (fingerprint, mugshots and biometrics)

• Stream on-scene, live video to command centers and

Mayor’s office , telemedicine videoconferencing

CommunicationsPublic Initiatives

• 311 call center

• Ready NY Guides

• Notify NYC/Social Media

• Community Emergency

Response Team (CERT)

CommunicationsNotify NYC

• Staffed by OEM Watch Commanders

• Twitter and RSS

• Localized messages via phone, email, SMS

• Taxi notification and electronic road signs operated by Dept of Transportation.

• Emergency Alert System broadcasts severe emergency information via TV and radio.

CommunicationsSocial Media

Information Systems

• E911 Call Center Systems

• Situational Awareness for Field Response System

• Citywide Asset and Logistics Management System

• Unified Victim Identification System

Source:

Information SystemsSituational Awareness for Field

Response System (2010)

Active Incident Dashboard

Emergency Response Data Packet Generatorhttp://www.urisa.org/files/NYC_OEM_ESIG_2010.pdf

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

Open Government

Road Map for the Digital City (2011)

• Rachel Sterne, NYC Chief

Digital Officer

• Outlines City’s plans for

– Access

– Open Government

– Public Engagement

– Industry

• Open Data Mandate, signed

April 2012

Open Data Initiatives

Open Data Initiatives

NYC BigApps 3.0 Winner - NYC Facets: Smart Open Data Exchange

http://nyc.pediacities.com/facets

App Contests and Hackathons

Opportunities for Designers

in Emergency Response

Thinking in Systems

• Elements of an Emergency Response System

– People

– Measurement tools/devices

– Data/Information Systems

– Communication

– Response

• Emergency Response Frameworks

– Command Structure (NIMS, CIMS)

– Common Operating Procedures

Role of Information Architecture

• Do not employ “Information Architects”

• 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 [IA], 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.

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

“If power and communications

are out, remote sensing may not

work, so road conditions are

brought in via first-responders

and then rebuilt using the NYS

RSDA (Road Status and Damage

Assessment) tool.”

--NY State DOT Employee

Q. Please comment on any gaps between the requirements of digital

applications for first responders and what is delivered by digital designers?

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

Source: NYC Office of Emergency Management

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?

What’s Happening Now?

• NYC and Nationally– Open Data Mandate

– Fully Integrated, Next Generation 911

– The Future of NYCWiN locally, broadband nationally

– NYC as a Tech Center

• Worldwide– Crowdsourcing

– Integrated Handheld Devices

– Open Source Toolkits

– Mashup Applications

– Simulation

– 3D Visualization

CrowdsourcingOpen Street Map – Haiti Project

Open Source ToolkitGoogle Crisis Response

http://www.google.org/crisisresponse/

Open Source ToolkitUshahidi Platform

http://www.ushahidi.com

Integrated Handheld DevicesFiRST Bomb Response

• IED/HAZMAT information

• Current and forecasted

weather information

• Road network data

• Email, phone, Google Maps

and Search

• iPhone/iPad, Android, and

Window PC

• $12 mobile, $100 PC

• Restricted to .gov, .mil

and .us users

• Released June 26, 2012

Source: Department of Homeland Security, Science & Technology Directorate

http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/st-smartphone-app-bomb-threats.shtm

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

Virtual VolunteeringHumanity Road Hashboard

Simulation ExercisesQuickNets Situational Awareness Tool

Partners: Humanity Road, Rogue Genius, GeoIQ, Sahana Software Foundation

3D VisualizationGeoweb3D Geographic Data

Source: Geoweb3D, GIS Services

3D VisualizationGeoweb3D Live Video Integration

Source: Geoweb3D, GIS Services

Thank You!

• nwhysel@gmail.com

• http://nwhysel.blogspot.com

• @nwhysel on Twitter

ResourcesOrganizations and Meetups

• ESRI Dev Meetup Group – Northeast:http://www.meetup.com/DevMeetUpNortheast/

• GISMOhttp://www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/gismo/

• NY Data Visualization and Infographicshttp://www.meetup.com/New-York-Datavisualization-and-Infographics/

• NY Location Based Apps Meetuphttp://www.meetup.com/LocationApps/

• New York City GIS & Cartographyhttp://www.meetup.com/nycgis/

• NYC Office of Emergency Managementhttp://www.nyc.gov/oem/

ResourcesPublications

• Digital Communities: www.digitalcommunities.com

• Emergency Management: www.emergencymgmt.com

• Federal Computer Week: fcw.com

• Government Technology: www.govtech.com

• O’Reilly Radar Gov 2.0: radar.oreilly.com/gov2

ResourcesFeatured Tools - Government

• Data.gov: www.data.gov

• FEMA NIMS Framework: www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/

• Notify NYC: http://www.nyc.gov/notifynyc

• NYC CIMS Framework:

www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/about/about_cims.shtml

• NYCityMap: http://www.nyc.gov/citymap/

• NYC Digital Roadmap:

www.nyc.gov/html/digital/html/roadmap/roadmap.shtml

• Socrata (govt open data platform): www.socrata.com

ResourcesFeatured Tools – Commercial

• ArcGIS Explorer: explorer.arcgis.com

• Adaptx Digital Pen: www.adaptx.com

• Geoweb3D: www.geoweb3D.com

• Linkspoint GPS: www.linkspoint.com

• Motorola E9-1-1 Systems: www.motorola.com

• OceanScan: http://www.oceanscan-mst.com/

• Smiths Detection: www.smithsdetection.com/HGVI.php

ResourcesFeatured Tools – Nonprofit

• Google Crisis Response: www.google.org/crisisresponse

• Humanity Road: www.humanityroad.org

• Open Street Map: www.openstreetmap.org

• QuickNets: www.quick-nets.org

• Ushahidi: www.ushahidi.org

ResourcesHackathons and Application Contests

• Big Apps 3.0 Contest: http://www.nycbigapps.com/

• Challenge.gov: http://www.challenge.gov

• Change by Us: http://nyc.changeby.us/

• Code for America: http://www.codeforamerica.org/

• Hack for Change: http://www.change.org/

• Reinvent Green: http://www.nyc.gov/reinventgreen/