A research-based approach to simulation in disaster management

Abstract

The need for emergency management models has increased in response to the rise in disasters in recent years. The need for a set of standards to be applied to the practise of emergency management has been identified by local and state officials (Local Emergency Management Standards, 1998). Disaster management has been studied by different researchers focusing on different aspects of the problem; however, there still is not a complete and integrated tool for disaster management. In this study, we introduce a research-based approach to simulation that combines the management needs, such as critical decision parameters and information, with actual disaster scenarios such as the impact and characteristics. Integrating these models allows us to better understand and study disaster management which is a complex system from various perspectives.