Abstract
Virtual Operations Support Teams (VOSTs) are a novel form of organized intelligence-gathering effort that has recently appeared in the emergency management and disaster response domain. Using novel organizational strategies and advanced algorithmic tools, such teams are set up to master the challenge of data overload and to turn it into increased situational awareness for decision-makers. This paper contains an analysis of the structural, procedural and technical requirements of VOSTs for the collaborative deployment with emergency management agencies during the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2017 in Düsseldorf. We had the unique opportunity to participate in the creation and initial deployments of a VOST, a new team assembled by the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). Based on our observations we will provide a structured investigation into the various tasks of a VOST, such as social media monitoring, information verification, and crisis mapping. Due to the specific nature of the challenges faced by a VOST, which inherently involve big data processing, we will discuss the technical requirements and future prospects of data mining tools developed for and employed within this context.
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