**7. Discussion and conclusion**

58 Emerging Informatics – Innovative Concepts and Applications

Various applications of advanced technologies for emergency management are being trialed and tested in a number of settings. In their work on the large scale outdoor music festivals, Mogensen and Thomsen (2010) described an integrated approach, the @aGalance System, that provides overview and support collaboration between designated emergency responders. Key components of the communication technological solution proposed by

1. GPS and Radio receivers: The media allows communication channel for transmitting

2. 3D environment: This enables visual communication through captured live video and

3. Tracking devices: As an activity indication such as larger movements at the festival area this device tracks down though GPS driven static and remotely controlled cameras. 4. Handheld field devices : This is to connect with centrally located stationary monitors at, for example, the local emergency control centre or with specific response coordinators However, the system does not provide for a direct communication loop between festival

Bessis, Asimakopoulou and Xhafa (2011) reinforce the argument for a technological roadmap that enables improved application of computational intelligence in disaster management. This study described the merits of cloud computing services for emergency management. In addition, the study also identified next generation emerging technologies for emergency management and decision making. According to Bessis et al. (2011) the next

*Grid computing:* Grid computing combines high-end computing nodes, networks and databases in an integrated computing technology. In the emergency management, such infrastructure can support synchronous and asynchronous communication in a collaborative

*Web services:* Web services use a *service-oriented approach* (SOA) to provide stateless, persistent services. An important merit of this service model is that it is always present for

*Web 2.0:* Web 2.0 offers a web based platform where users as individuals or communities are able to communicate online their ideas and feelings on shared topics of interests using available collaborative services. Different Web 2.0 technologies include wikis, blogs, photosharing, bookmarking. All of these technologies can be used as information sharing

*Pervasive computing:* Pervasive computing embeds computing and information technologies into our environments by integrating them seamlessly into our everyday lives (Weiser, 2001). Bessis et al. (2011) suggested that pervasive computing has many potential real-world applications ranging from health to environmental monitoring systems through the use of a

*Crowd computing:* According to the information provided by Bessis et al. (2011), crowd sourcing or crowd computing is a new technology for crowd management. Some studies

number of mobile devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, sensors and computers.

**6. Advanced technologies for emergency management** 

digital pictures in the controlled display environment

attendees and key management and associated stakeholders.

Mogensen and Thomsen (2010) are:

generation technologies are as follows:

users to meet their information service needs.

manner.

platforms.

information.

This chapter does not claim to provide answers that will prevent future emergency situations at festivals and events, it does however open up potential ways in which such situations can be managed more effectively and efficiently. Human error and extreme acts of nature will still occur. However, the use and integration of emerging ICT systems into the field of festival and special event management provides great promise in terms of risk mitigation and emergency planning, monitoring, controlling and response management functions.

As mentioned earlier, in many ways the festival site described is the equivalent of a temporary small city with a daily population of between 20,000 and 25,000 residents and visitors. This requires sophisticated risk management plans supported by sophisticated decision making and communications systems. The cost of creating such a system to cover such a short period of time, less than one week, is a challenge that requires innovative approaches. While setting up extensive emergency communications systems to respond to major incidents may be justifiable when addressing the concerns of a major, 1,000,000 or more, city, it becomes increasingly harder to justify major expenditure on infrastructure for smaller towns and indeed, in our research context, festivals and events. Yet, what price can be put on the potential risk to human lives in the event of an extreme emergency incident? Realistic solutions must therefore be sought to mitigate the potential likelihood and consequences of such events through the use of systems that are both affordable and context appropriate.

The future use of pervasive smart phone and pad type technologies are critical to the ability of event and emergency service organisations to create a communications delivery system that can meet the real time challenges of pro-actively responding to emergency situations at events. Many festivals and events are moving towards creating smart phone applications that create an informational relationship between potential and actual consumers of events and the organisers of those events. These applications enable programming, ticketing, site etc. information to be delivered to attendees and purchases to be made. This technology can potentially be used to provide emergency management updates and advice from both event organisers and third parties to attendees. Imagine getting the imagery of approaching storm fronts overlaid onto the festival site map or having the safest road to travel home based on latest road flooding advice from the local roads authority automatically downloaded onto

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your vehicles GPS system, these propositions are now becoming technologically both feasible and affordable. Communications is a multi-way activity. Such applications could also incorporate means by which attendees could communicate on-site updates of emerging real-time risk issues back to the organisers, providing many more 'sets of eyes' on emerging risk situations.

Examples for potential usage of such systems can be seen with increasing frequency internationally. In 2010 a music festival called 'The Love Parade' was held in Duisburg, Germany. Logistical crowd management issues resulted in more than 500 attendees being injured and 21 deaths with subsequent cancellation of the event and on-going legal cases (Spiegel Online International - *Prosecutors Investigate 16 over Deadly Event*). Critical to the issues involved in this case was the need for better planning, decision-making and communications infrastructure while ensuring information was received and acted on in a timely manner (Spiegel Online International - *Blind Leading the Blind*).

Similarly there was spate of stage collapses in 2011, including the Indiana State Fair disaster in where severe winds of over 60mph had a hand in the deaths of 6 people and many more injured. Media reports stated that 'State Fair management knew and was tracking the weather conditions, yet took no timely action… (in contrast) a local symphony that was to perform nearby cancelled its outdoor performance because of weather and urged spectators to seek shelter' (USA Today - *Safety standards are under a critical eye after stage collapse*). Improved communications, including automated systems, could have vastly improved safety outcomes in these instances.

These more serious examples show the vital need to have the ability to implement an integrated communications strategy that brings together real-time facts and key stakeholders. Such a strategy needs to enable critical decision making in sometimes life threatening circumstances. Given the potential consequences, a system that is robust, affordable, user-friendly and quickly brought on line with sufficient capacity is essential. We believe that cloud based provisioning can provide the framework on which future emergency management systems will be established for special events and festivals. In 'cloud versus clouds' the future is bright.
