Lili Yang

Escalator accidents not only happen frequently but also have cascading effects. The purpose of this study is to block the formation of cascading accident networks by identifying and preventing critical hazards. A modified five-step task-driven method (FTDM) is proposed to break down passenger-related cascading escalator accidents. Three complex network parameters in complex network theory are utilized to identify critical and non-critical Risk Passenger Behavior (RPB) hazards and Other Hazards related with Risk Passenger Behavior (OH-RPB) in accident chains. A total of 327 accidents that occurred in the Beijing metro rail transit (MRT) stations were used for case studies. The results are consistent in critical and non-critical RPB and OH-RPB and prove that through combination of FTDM accident investigation model and complex network analysis method, critical and non-critical RPB and OH-RPB in a complicated cascading hazards network can be identified. Prevention of critical RPB can block the formation of cascading accident networks. The method not only can be used by safety manager to make the corresponding preventive measures according to the results in daily management but also the findings can guide the allocation of limited preventive resources to critical hazards rather than non-critical hazards. Moreover, the defects of management plan and product design can be re-examined according to the research results.

Purpose: There has been a lack of meaningful information systems architecture, which comprehensively conceptualise the essential components and functionality of an information system for fire emergency response addressing needs of different job roles. The purpose of this paper is to propose a comprehensive information systems architecture which would best support four of the key firefighter job roles. Design/methodology/approach: The study has built on the outcomes of two previous preliminary studies on information and human-computer interaction needs of core firefighter job roles. Scenario-based action research was conducted with firefighters in a range of roles, to evaluate human-computer interaction needs while using various technology platforms. Findings: Several key themes were identified and led us to propose several layers of an integrated architecture, their composition and interactions. Research limitations/implications: The selected fire scenarios may not represent every type of fire expected in high-risk built environments. Practical implications: The current paper represents a shared discussion between end users, system architects and designers, to understand and improve essential components. It therefore provides a reference point for the development of information system architecture for fire emergency response. Originality/value: The proposed information system architecture is novel because it outlines specific architectural elements required to meet the specific situation awareness needs of different firefighters job roles.

During 2015, a survey was completed by 373 respondents representing academics and practitioners in Emergency Management. They were asked to evaluate the courses for a Master's degree in Emergency Management with a concentration in Information Systems. This paper reviews the very significant qualitative comments they made about each of the various courses and the program as a whole.

This paper aims to develop a multiple perspective framework for employee security risk assessment by simultaneously, not sequentially, addressing three distinct perspectives: technical, organisational, and human factor perspectives. Interactions between technical approaches and human factors, and between organisational issues and human factors are investigated. A security related question library that integrates organisational culture and human factors with network security risk assessment in a BS ISO/IEC 27001 compliant environment is established in order to identify security vulnerabilities.

This paper explores the idea of determining the sink node location in wireless sensor networks by applying genetic algorithms. Sink nodes play an important role in and are cluster centers of wireless sensor networks. Optimal location of sink nodes can save transmission energy and improve the transmission speed. Many obstacles in the application scene may prevent the sink nodes to be located in certain places. By applying a genetic algorithm the location optimization problem of the sink nodes is formed with the obstacles in the scene as a constraint. The simulation results show that employing multiple sink nodes in a sensor network would significantly increase the lifetime of the sensor network and the environment of the application scene can be properly considered in the determination of the sink node locations.

Intelligent home environments are one of the major application areas of pervasive computing. Safety and security are two most important issues in the remote monitoring and control of intelligent home environments. This article takes safety and security into consideration together and proposes a phone-out-only policy for ensuring security and virtual home environments for safety. A remote monitoring and control system for a security camera is used to illustrate the new methodologies for safety and security. By using the demonstration system people are able to easily monitor and control a security camera, central heating, microwave oven and washer from anywhere by using mobile phones. Our system distinguishes from the existing DTI (Department of Trade and Industry in the UK) next wave technologies and a few of on-going EU projects in the ways of dealing with safety and security and its simplicity. Remote monitoring and control of intelligent home environments can be of great benefits to the working families and holiday makers and has a great commercial potential.