Harmonizing emergency management knowledge representation

Despite technological advances, the interoperability of the information and decision support systems of the various parties in the emergency and crisis management community remains a difficult task. The Finnish Emergency Response Center (ERC) is responsible for taking all emergency calls in any emergency. This operating model differs from the operating models in most countries, in that the ERC operators can alert all the necessary authorities directly. The response plans (RP), which are the procedures and instructions on how to react and whom to alert in case of a particular emergency situation, are scripted by the corresponding authorities (rescue, health, police, etc.) and ERC officers are obligated to follow the plans. Currently the Finnish ERC is specifying a new software system and this study was set up in part to support some of the needs of this large national project. This paper discusses how a business process modeling notation (BPMN) could be adapted in a multi-authority field and whether BPMN is suitable for the demands of emergency authorities. Another aim was to describe and specify the relevant organizational structure and the interfaces required in the response plans. The modeled process descriptions were clarified by investigating literature sources and through discussions with emergency experts. The results show how process descriptions could be used to harmonize the emergency response plans and organization in the Finnish Emergency Center. Process descriptions can also help the ERC to carry out requirement engineering for their new emergency management system.