Real-time updates, drawing a clear picture of a catastrophe situation.

The Challenge

The brief of this university project was to create an information system to support intervention teams in disaster situations.

In our research, we talked to rescue services and discovered that they were faced with two main problems: slow communication structures and outdated technology. Mapping and strategic planning were based on manual updating of printed situation drafts, a process that is both time-consuming and overly vulnerable to misinterpretations.

The Solution

In emergencies, it’s absolutely essential for all involved rescue parties to have access to correct and continually updated information. The faster they receive information, the faster they can take action, increasing the chances that damage to life and property can be reduced.

The idea was it to create a dynamically generated reflection of the situation using interactive map data (GIS) and drag & drop interaction. DIMA is using mobile devices that are connected by a hybrid network to transfer real-time information on the status of the emergency to all involved parties.

The Results

DIMA was an award nominated project conducted at the University of Applied Sciences of Darmstadt, Germany.