ABSTRACT
In a state of emergency, such as that of a large-scale natural disaster, authorities need to quickly and effectively assess the situation and immediately decide on countermeasures. They need to answer the following questions: What has happened? Where has the greatest damage occurred? What kind of support systems are needed and to what degree are they needed? Do the authorities need to work with other organizations? As the police and fire departments rush to the scene of damage, the situation gradually becomes clearer and the authorities can start to tally up the damage. However, handling a state of emergency in this way generally takes time, and in the case of large-scale disasters, can require up to a day or more. At the same time, there is a continuing need for actions that must be performed promptly, such as search and rescue (SAR) missions, medical treatment, fire extinguishing, providing care and shelter for evacuees, and conducting assessments of building safety. With only limited information available, these activities cannot be performed with suitable efficiency.
