Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (ISCRAM) Asia Pacific 2018

Registrations are open for the inaugural international meeting of the Asia Pacific community for Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (ISCRAM), in Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand, on 5-7 November 2018.

The purpose of ISCRAM Asia Pacific 2018 is to exchange research into and experiences of information systems for emergency management, particularly focussed around applications in the context of the four priorities of the Sendai Framework (2015-2030) for Disaster Risk Reduction, namely:

1. Understanding disaster risk;  
2. Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk; 
3. Investing in disaster reduction for resilience; 
4. Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

​Information management research and experience will be highlighted across the natural, social, built, and economic environments for disaster risks related to: Earthquakes; severe weather; flooding; wildfire; tsunami; colcanic eruption; lifeline failures; pandemics, bio-security, etc.

Themes being addressed by ISCRAM Asia Pacific 2018 are:

• Resilience to cope with the unexpected
• Monitoring and alerting systems supporting business-as-usual and emergency warnings
• Data issues for situation/disaster awareness
• Geospatial and temporal information capture, management, and analytics in support of disaster decision making
• Human centred design for collaborative systems supporting 4Rs (Reduction, Readiness, Response and Recovery)
• Understanding risk, risk reduction, consequences and forecasting
• Social media and community engagement supporting resilience building
• Information systems for disaster healthcare
• Enhancing resilience of natural, built, and socioeconomic environments

Attendees of ISCRAM Asia Pacific 2018 are anticipated to be academics, researchers, and emergency management practitioners, from governments, NGOs, and industry, particularly from around the Pacific, but encompassing global participation. Planning is based on 200 – 400 attendees.

Programme for ISCRAM Asia Pacific 2018

• Keynotes;
• Plenaries;
• Parallel sessions and workshops;
• Poster presentations/displays;
• Trade exhibition;
• Tours of relevant facilities and points of interest;
• Social programme (icebreaker, dinner).
• An optional three-day post-meeting visit to Kaikoura and Christchurch is planned, for lessons from the impacts and recovery following the earthquakes, and the use made there of information systems.

The preliminary programme is being updated at the Official Conference Website Keynote speakers include:

• Professor Virginia Murray - Public Health Consultant in Global Disaster Risk Reduction for Public Health England;
• Paul Jepson - General Manager Technology at the Earthquake Commission (EQC), New Zealand;
• Julie Dugdale - Associate Professor at University Grenoble Alps, and leader of the MAGMA Multi-Agent Systems research team, France.

​Submissions exceeding expectations

Almost 100 papers and 12 workshop proposals were submitted by the June closing date. The pre-conference PhD Colloquium, at Massey University on the 4th Nov, has 19 PhD student applicants accepted from around the world. Poster papers are called for - before 1 September 2018. This is an ideal format for practitioners or researchers to describe their experience with or views on best practice in emergency information management, including communicating situational awareness, use of social media, and generating the common operating picture - across the 4R’s of risk reduction: Reduction, Readiness, Response, and Recovery/Regeneration.

Sponsors who are supporting the ISCRAM Asia Pacific Conference are thanked. Without their continued and generous support, we would not be able to hold the ISCRAM Asia Pacific 2018 Conference. Sponsorship opportunities with associated naming rights are available (although many have been taken), contact iscramap2018@confer.co.nz.

For a copy of the Sponsorship and Exhibition prospectus please email iscramap2018@confer.co.nz.

Trade Exhibition Space will be available at the Te Papa venue. The space will be generous and located around the catering area to maximise exposure to the 200-400 attendees. Planning is advanced to advertise and open the Trade Exhibition to the public.

Security of the exhibition is planned. If you’re interested in having a presence as an exhibitor, please email: iscramap2018@confer.co.nz.

Trade Exhibition Registrations are called for – before Monday 29 October 2018.

Key dates

• Submission of Poster Papers: Closes 1 September 2018
• Early Bird Registration: Closes 21 September 2018
• Trade Exhibition Registration: Closes 29 October 2018
• PhD Colloquium: 4 November 2018
• ISCRAM Asia Pacific 2018: 5-7 November 2018
• Excursion to Kaikoura and Christchurch 8-10 November 2018