An emergency response decision support system framework for application in e‐government

An emergency response decision support system (ERDSS) needs to assist decision makers to evaluate emergency plans and select an appropriate one during an emergency by supporting heterogeneous emergency response data sources and providing decision makers the access to appropriate emergency rescue knowledge. It also needs to provide differentiated services to meet requirements. Whether the system is effective or not depends on the framework it is based on. This study proposes an ERDSS framework that consists of ten functional modules: Emergency Service Helpdesk, Command and Coordination Center, Emergency Plan Management, Emergency Relief Supplies Management, Emergency Finance Budget Management, Emergency Organization and Activity Management, Emergency Knowledge Warehouse, Emergency Alarm Management, and Problem Analysis and Management. A case study is conducted on Shanghai emergency management decision support system, an EMDSS based on this framework and applied currently in Shanghai, China. The study demonstrates that the proposed ERDSS system framework can provide theoretical and practical guidance for designing and developing effective emergency response systems.