Cabante, Louiggi G.

CHAPTER 1
Problem and Its Scope
1.1 Introduction
Disasters are emergencies that cannot be handled by those affected without
outside assistance. They are caused by natural or manmade events wherein
communities experience severe danger and incur loss of lives and properties causing
disruption to their social structure and to all or some of the affected communities
essential functions. Disasters are inevitable. They are caused by unsustainable
development that has not taken account of possible hazard impacts in that location.
Human-made or induced hazards are threats having elements of human intent,
negligence, error and involving a failure of a system. Human-induced disasters are a
result of inadequately managed human-induced hazards such as technological,
environmental, socio-economic, political, and security hazards.
As disasters occur, it is observed that emergency responses are experiencing
delays. In these times, a caller, victim or witness, experiences physical and mental
incapability that slows them from relaying critical information such as the address and
the cause of the incident. Since disasters cause the loss of lives and/or other valuables
and that emergency response is necessary, there should be a possible solution that can
address to this issue.
The aim of this study is to develop a system that provides a much quicker
emergency response to the persons in need. With the help of existing technologies
today such as the GPS and IoT, it is possible that this problem can be addressed.

Cabante, Louiggi G.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Disasters are inevitable. Emergency response is a necessity.
In reality today, emergency responses are experiencing delays which sometimes
cause the loss of lives and/or other valuables. It is also noted that in these times, a
caller, victim or witness, experiences physical and mental incapability that slows them
from relaying critical information such as the address and the cause of the incident
which sometimes causes misunderstanding. This study aims to further analyze and
understand whether the incapability of the caller and the delays of the emergency
response correlate.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

This study aims:
1. To determine the features needed in the proposed system;
2. To design a system that will address to the problem; and
3. To evaluate and test the overall system performance.

1.4 Significance of the Study

This study aims to benefit the following:
The Local Government Unit Dapitan City. The city of Dapitan covers a big
area and this study aims to aid the local government in easing their burdens in terms of
security and emergency response to its residents.
Residents of Dapitan. The residents benefit from this study in a way that it
connects the local government and the residents to be interactive in emergencies and
public safety.

Cabante, Louiggi G.

1.5 Scope and Delimitation of the Project

The study focuses on developing a system that can be a possible solution to the
problem. It also covers the analysis whether the problem correlates to its sub-problem
which is the incapability of the caller in relaying information. Further understanding to
existing technologies such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) that will be useful in
the future are also parts of its coverage.
The study does not cover the analysis of other sub-problems except the one
mentioned above.

1.6 Conceptual Framework

OUTPUT

PROCESS

INPUT
* To determine the
features needed in
the proposed system

* Gathering data

* To design a system
that will address to
the problem

* Testing and
implementation of
the system from the
data

* Proposed system
that addresses the
problem

* Analyzing data

* To evaluate and
test the overall
system performance

1.7 Definition of Terms

Global

Positioning

System

(GPS)

is

a global

navigation

satellite

system (GNSS) that provides location and time information in all weather conditions,
anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or

Cabante, Louiggi G.

more GPS satellites. The GPS system operates independently of any telephonic or
internet reception, though these technologies can enhance the usefulness of the GPS
positioning information. The GPS system provides critical positioning capabilities to
military, civil, and commercial users around the world.

CHAPTER 2
Review of Literature and Studies

2.1 Related Studies

1.

Managing

Coordination

Information Technologies.

in

Emergency

Response

Systems

with

An emergency response system is a multi-disciplinary

concept that includes not only information technology (IT), but also social
communication networks of response agents, and organizational designs. The
complexity of the system, the dynamic environment in which the system is embedded,
and its technical constraints imply serious coordination problem. Based on coordination
theory and theory of task-technology fit, we develop a model to guide our research to
establish a better understanding of the impact of IT on coordination in emergency
response systems. Particularly, in this research, we identify dependencies in the
system, propose corresponding coordination mechanisms, and generate a set of
propositions explicating the fit between technology attributes and coordination tasks.
2.

WIPER: An Emergency Response System. This paper describes the

WIPER system, a proof of concept prototype, and progress made on its development to
date. WIPER is intended to provide emergency response managers with an integrated

Cabante, Louiggi G.

system that detects possible emergencies from cellular communication data, attempts
to predict the development of emergency situations, and provides tools for evaluating
possible courses of action in dealing with emergency situations. We describe algorithms
for detecting anomalies in streaming cellular communication network data, the
implementation of a simulation system that validates running simulations with new real
world data, and a web-based front end to the WIPER system. We also discuss issues
relating to the real-time aggregation of data from the cellular service provider and its
distribution to components of the WIPER system.
3. WIPER: The Integrated Wireless Phone Based Emergency Response
System. We describe a prototype emergency response system. This dynamic data
driven application system (DDDAS) uses wireless call data, including call volume, who
calls whom, call duration, services in use, and cell phone location information. Since all
cell phones (that are powered on) maintain contact with one or more local cell towers,
location data about each phone is updated periodically and available throughout the
cellular phone network. This permits the cell phones of a city to serve as an ad hoc
mobile sensor net, measuring the movement and calling patterns of the population.
Social network theory and statistical analysis on normal call activity and call locations
establish a baseline. A detection and alert system monitors streaming summary cell
phone call data. Abnormal call patterns or population movements trigger a simulation
and prediction system. Hypotheses about the anomaly are generated by a rule-based
system, each initiating an agent-based simulation. Automated dynamic validation of the
simulations against incoming streaming data is used to test each hypothesis. A

Cabante, Louiggi G.

validated simulation is used to predict the evolution of the anomaly and made available
to an emergency response decision support system.
4. A Multimedia Communication System for Collaborative Emergency
Response Operation in Disaster-affected Areas. This paper describes an emergency
network platform based on a hybrid combination of mobile ad hoc networks (MANET), a
satellite IP network operating with conventional terrestrial Internet. It is designed for
collaborative simultaneous emergency response operations deployed in a number of
disaster-affected areas. The architecture of the network called DUMBONET together
with our emergency response applications is described. Experience from a real-life
experimental testbed is discussed. Our implementation involves multidisciplinary
research areas as MANET routing, peer-to-peer computing, sensor network and face
recognition. The paper also identifies potential research challenges that we intend to
investigate to further enhance the capabilities of our system.
5. THE DESIGN OF A DYNAMIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION SYSTEM (DERMIS). This paper systematically develops a set of
general and supporting design principles and specifications for a Dynamic Emergency
Response Management Information System (DERMIS) by identifying design premises
resulting from the use of the Emergency Management Information System and
Reference Index (EMISARI) and design concepts resulting from a comprehensive
literature review. Implicit in crises of varying scopes and proportions are communication
and information needs that can be addressed by todays information and
communication technologies. However, what is required is organizing the premises and
concepts that can be mapped into a set of generic design principles in turn providing a

Cabante, Louiggi G.

framework for the sensible development of flexible and dynamic Emergency Response
Information Systems.