Calls for papers

 

International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management

 

Special issue on: "Emergency Information Systems - Information Management Before, During, and After Crisis Events"

Guest Editor:
Dr. Shoshana Altschuller, Iona College, USA

Recent history has been no stranger to unexpected debilitating events such as natural disasters, political disturbances and terror attacks. No two emergency situations are alike. However, when disaster strikes, the ability to collect, share and distribute accurate and timely information is, in most cases, one of the most important goals in response and recovery efforts.

While crisis scenarios are unpredictable, they often include uncertainty, complexity and physical damage. Numerous recent examples have shown that these characteristics present challenges for the successful management of information during these trying events. In addition, multiple collaborators and sources of data as well as difficult conditions and rapidly changing environments create unique information needs to be addressed by emergency information systems.

The aim of this special issue is to shed light on these needs and to broaden our understanding of past and potential approaches to the use of information systems and technologies to address them. Potential authors are invited to submit contributions analysing issues related to the management of information leading up to, in the midst of, and/or in the aftermath of crisis events.

Submissions might be of a theoretical nature, might include an analysis of notably successful or ineffective aspects of information management during past crises, or propose innovative uses of information systems and technologies for future crisis settings.

Subject Coverage
Suitable topics include but are not limited to:

• Early warning and communication systems
• Monitoring and analysis of hazards and risks
• Emergency notification and dispatch systems
• Crisis information management systems
• Geospatial systems
• Knowledge management
• Artificial intelligence
• Decision support systems
• Issues in inter-system and inter-organisational interoperability
• Issues in information accuracy and reliability
• Roles of social media in information collection and dissemination
• Frameworks of information needs during crisis
• Case analyses
• Flexible and adaptable systems design
• The role of governments in controlling information flow during crisis

Notes for Prospective Authors

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. (N.B. Conference papers may only be submitted if the paper was not originally copyrighted and if it has been completely re-written).

All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Author Guidelines page

Important Dates

Manuscripts due by: 15 December, 2011

Notification to authors: 15 March, 2012

Final drafts of papers: 31 May, 2012