Realizing the Full Potential of (Infra-)Structures for Inter-Agency Communication Before, During, and After Disasters Using the Example of APAN (All-Partners Access Network) | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore

Realizing the Full Potential of (Infra-)Structures for Inter-Agency Communication Before, During, and After Disasters Using the Example of APAN (All-Partners Access Network)


Abstract:

Given its tremendous success in coordinating information-sharing efforts among numerous relief and military organizations during the 2010 Haiti Earthquake and the 2011 Ja...Show More

Abstract:

Given its tremendous success in coordinating information-sharing efforts among numerous relief and military organizations during the 2010 Haiti Earthquake and the 2011 Japan Earthquake, DoD's All Partners Access Network (APAN, https://community.apan.org/hadr), has proven to be an essential communication platform for humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HA/DR). While the platform is widely-known within military and government-based agencies, it is unknown to many volunteer organizations, unaffiliated communities, and other first responders that might be able and willing to provide assistance in times of disaster. Thus, we propose the need to bridge the gap between agencies, organizations, and communities within and outside the bounds of government to collaboratively prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. With the current functionalities in-place from APAN that span from discussion posts, to group chats, and emails within the "HADR" community site, APAN can be beneficial to initiatives and organizations at all local, state, federal, and volunteer levels. Members may sign up for an access account and get approved to join a group created for a certain anticipated event (e.g., 2017 Hurricane Maria) ahead of time, and may begin to exchange data and information in the Preparation phase. Separate pages for Response and Recovery are set up, with specific tasks listed under different discussion post topics. As a supplement or alternative to a "top-down" and hierarchical communication architectures (Becerra-Fernandez & Sabherwal, 2014), platforms like APAN enable flat or non-hierarchical communication (infra-)structures in which all organizations can interact with one another and are given the same functionalities on the platform. We acknowledge that a flat structure might be out of sync with national and local disaster management plans, such as FEMA's Emergency Support Functions (ESF), which mandate some hierarchical and sequential processes. Furthermo...
Date of Conference: 17-17 April 2018
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 28 May 2018
ISBN Information:
Conference Location: Orlando, FL, USA

Contact IEEE to Subscribe