A collaborative GIS framework to support equipment distribution for civil engineering disaster response operations

After an eXtreme Event (XE) hits an urban area, well-organized response operations are required to mitigate the chaotic situation. Efficient allocation of resources such as construction equipment is critical to the performance of disaster response operations. This paper presents a Geographic Information System (GIS) based framework that facilitates equipment allocation in response to disasters. The framework is composed of three subsystems to facilitate information gathering and decision making for equipment distribution. First, an application that runs on mobile devices for on-field resource request is developed. Second, a resource repository is implemented with a geosaptial database that enables spatial query of resources with a graphical interface. In addition, a GIS which enables automated decision making such as resource matching and route finding for resource distribution is presented. Integration of decision models into the framework to support complex decision making for equipment distribution is also proposed. With the framework in place, disaster response operations could become more efficient. Simulated test cases have been carried out for Champaign, IL, the City of Chicago and the New York City. Future research will be directed towards further expansion and validation of the framework through interaction with emergency management agencies in the US.

Research Highlights
► Automated decision making for equipment distribution is made possible for disaster response efforts within the jurisdiction of an incident command post.
► This approach is shown to be flexible and applicable through the case studies at the Illinois Fire Service Institute, City of Chicago, and New York City.
► An alternative approach needs to be established for decision making when the capacity of the incident command post and emergency operation center is overloaded.