This is a brief description of studies that exemplify the methods and approaches that have been developed and used by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) researchers in conducting integrated assessments. See the complete list of Integrated Assessment Briefs to find out more about ORNL's efforts in integrated assessment. Contact Mike Farrell (farrellmp@ornl.gov) for more information.

Automation in Emergency Management

A representative sketch of the main menu is shown here of an early prototype of EMIS.

How is the vast amount of data potentially relevant in an emergency maintained and relevant portions quickly retrieved when needed?

EMIS, or the Emergency Management Information System, is a prototype of a user-friendly client-server information system designed to support emergency decision making and response to a chemical weapons accident.

At the core of the system is an Oracle database running on a Sun SPARCserver. Client workstations such as Apple Macintosh Quadras are connected to the server via Ethernet. The system supports many planning and response functions, including data acquisition from instruments such as met towers, team assignment, monitoring of workers in protective clothing, as well as generation of notifications and media releases from pre-stored editable boilerplate components. EMIS features integrated electronic mail and an interface to high speed fax modems.

Geographical information needs are supported by a customized version of MicroGIS running under Microstation. A version of the Army's D2 atmospheric dispersion model also is integrated. Much of the user friendly front end of EMIS was developed in Oracle Card.

Although EMIS is currently a prototype for chemical weapons accidents, it was designed for portability and adaptability to other types of hazards management and response. Major design goals were: ease of use, high responsiveness, low potential for operator error, forgivingness, minimal training requirements, and low life-cycle maintenance costs.

Reed, J., G. Rogers, and J. Sorensen. 1991. Establishing functional requirements for emergency management information systems. In J. Sullivan and B. Clymer (eds), Simulation in Emergency Management and Engineering. Society for Computer Simulation, San Diego.

Where To?

[ Next Brief | Section 7 | Table of Contents for ORNL Integrated Assessment Briefs ]

Integrated Assessment Briefs. 1995. ORNL/M-4227. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN.