Title: Real-time video from remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS): a tool for improved decision-making in mass casualty incidents

Authors: Eirik Bjorheim Abrahamsen; Jon Tømmerås Selvik; Eivind Rake; Sindre Aske Høyland; Håkon Bjorheim Abrahamsen

Addresses: Department of Safety, Economics and Planning, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway ' Department of Safety, Economics and Planning, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway ' Department of Safety, Economics and Planning, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway; Department of Engineering, Western Norway University of Technology, Haugesund, Norway ' Department of Safety, Economics and Planning, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway ' Department of Safety, Economics and Planning, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway; Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway

Abstract: In mass casualty incidents, the emergency services must make several important and challenging strategic decisions, characterised by large uncertainties. In this paper, we explore and assess real-time video from remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) as a key tool for reducing uncertainties and thereby improving the situation assessment and decision-making in mass casualty incidents. To study the usefulness of such a technical solution, we consider two mass casualty incidents that occurred in Norway in 2011. Our study shows that a number of uncertainty factors related to missing information, unreliable information, ambiguous or conflicting information, and complex information influenced decision-making at the Oslo government district bombing and Utøya Island shooting. We also find that the use of a remotely piloted aircraft system could have reduced these uncertainties and in general improved the situation assessment in these incidents, highlighting the value of a remotely piloted aircraft system in mass casualty incidents.

Keywords: RPAS; remotely piloted aircraft system; mass casualty incidents; situation assessment; decision-making; risk; uncertainty.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2019.101169

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2019 Vol.19 No.3, pp.243 - 260

Received: 07 Oct 2017
Accepted: 21 Feb 2018
Published online: 26 Jul 2019 *

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