Exploring ontologies for semantic interoperability of data in emergency response
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Exploring ontologies for semantic interoperability of data in emergency response Zhengjie Fan & Sisi Zlatanova
Received: 29 April 2010 / Accepted: 18 April 2011 / Published online: 10 May 2011 # Società Italiana di Fotogrammetria e Topografia (SIFET) 2011
Abstract Emergency response is a complex activity involving many actors and heterogeneous spatial data. Two of the major challenges are the integration and extraction of these data and their transmission to emergency management actors. Although significant progress has been made regarding the systemic and syntactic heterogeneity of data in this context, semantic heterogeneity remains insufficiently addressed. Here, we discuss the possibility of applying the ontology to resolve semantic heterogeneity in emergency response. We propose a concept for a solution to the semantic interoperability problem in emergency management using an ontology by presenting a case study. Keywords Semantic interoperability . Ontology . Spatial data . Emergency management
Introduction Natural and manmade disasters have occurred regularly throughout human history. Recent large disasters (e.g., the Haiti Earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, the China Earthquake, and South Asia Tsunami) have involved increased manage-
Z. Fan (*) Web Information Systems, EWI, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 4, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands e-mail: [email protected] S. Zlatanova Section GIS-technology, OTB, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 9, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands e-mail: [email protected]
ment complexity during these emergencies. On the one hand, population density in cities has been growing at a much greater rate than in times past. Consequently, there are more people affected when a disaster occurs. On the other hand, climate change and technological developments may cause unexpected anomalies and industrial failures such as heavy rain, oil spills, landslides, nuclear waste leaks, and disease outbreaks. This increasing management complexity requires new approaches and tools to facilitate decision making in the face of disasters. How to alert, respond to and recover from disasters are major human challenges. Information from various disciplines is used in emergency management, among which spatial data play an important role (Snoeren et al. 2007). Spatial data facilitate the identification of the geographic locations of disasters, affected buildings, rescue teams, victims and shelters. These data help to clarify the landscape of the affected area or the level of damage to buildings, roads and bridges or the depth of inundated areas. Thus, spatial information helps to increase situational awareness (Zlatanova and Fabbri 2009). To enable the use of these data, emergency responders require fast and efficient access to them to allow for timely action. In large disasters, countless numbers of people are involved, but normally, emergencies are managed by four response units, i.e., the fire brigade, police department, medical services and the municipality (Xu and Zlat
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