SimEOC: A Distributed Web-Based Virtual Emergency Operations Center Simulator for Training and Research

Introduction

A crisis is defined as “any event that threatens to, or actually does, inflict damage to property or people” (IS -1, n. d.). Crises can be small or large in scale. In large scale crises, there usually is a significant probability of extreme danger and highly unpredictable outcomes (Leadership in Crisis, 2011). Small or large scale crises can occur at any time, and the consequences can be enormous. At the height of the H1N1 influenza outbreak between 2009 and 2010, 61 million people became infected with this virus. In addition, H1N1 caused an estimated 201,200 respiratory deaths and an additional 83,300 cardiac deaths (Dawood et al., 2012). In 2004, the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami affected approximately 5 million people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and the surrounding areas. Over 280,000 people died, and more than 1 million people were displaced (WHO, n. d.). In the United States, Hurricane Katrina was one of the most expensive and devastating natural disasters in American history (Rabkin, 2005). Over half a million people were affected by the hurricane, and the US energy infrastructure was severely damaged (Rabkin, 2005). In 2012, Hurricane Sandy swept through the Northeastern United States. Seventy-two people died and 8.5 million people lost power. More than 650,000 houses were damaged or destroyed (Blake et al., 2013). These and other crises clearly show the importance of disaster preparedness and response and also demonstrate how much can be improved, especially with respect to training and collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies (Agrait et al., 2004; Auf der Heide, 1989; Dorasamy & Raman, 2011; Holguín-Veras et al., 2007; Rabkin, 2005; Waugh Jr. & Streib, 2006). In our research we have designed and developed a prototype virtual system to improve emergency management training and research within the context of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC).¹ Specifically, we discuss SimEOC – a virtual Emergency Operations Center (SimEOC, n.d.).

The remainder of this paper is structured as follows. We begin by describing some challenge areas and limitations of practices in current emergency management training and research. Next, we outline some of the advantages of using computers, games and simulations to improve training and research. Following this, we describe a virtual Emergency Operations Center we developed in response to contemporary emergency management training and research limitations. We then describe the system in detail, beginning with our research and design methodology and followed by a description of each of the consoles that comprise SimEOC. Finally, we conclude with a description of testing, system evaluation, and future work.