HEIMDALL: A technological solution for multi-hazard management Support including wildfires

Abstract

Managing forest fires and other disasters usually involves multiple emergency management organisations, even multiple jurisdictions and countries in case of cross-border events. Following the initial disaster event, cascading effects can further amplify the degree and complexity of disaster situations. This imposes a high need and degree of cross-organisational communication and cooperation, not only during response but also in the preparedness phase, between all stakeholders (command and control centres, civil protection units, medical services, police and fire fighting units). However, relevant studies have revealed that collective interoperability is not sufficiently achieved, which reduces the ability to perform collaborative activities, including decision making and action implementation (House, 2014). Moreover, information overload and uncertainty in a crisis situation lead to reduced situation awareness and decision making capabilities. Managing disasters begins before the disaster happens through being ready and aware of hazards, considering risks, possibilities and preventive measures, building scenarios and training. There is clearly a need to ensure efficient societal preparedness, to improve incident and emergency situation response mechanisms, in order to reduce impacts on people, property, the environment, and on society as a whole. An element of this improvement should be the provision to disaster risk management first responders of a flexible platform for multi-hazard emergency planning and management. Such a platform makes use of innovative technologies, for the definition of realistic multi-disciplinary scenarios and response plans. Implementing such a tool is the ambition of the HEIMDALL H2020 European project (HEIMDALL, 2017). In the following sections the concept of the HEIMDALL project is outlined and demonstrated within the context of wildfire management.