Response Information Interoperability: A Development of Data Standards in the Fire Incident Context

Emergency management requires efficient information sharing and exchange among agencies for the smooth operations of intraand inter-organizational emergency management processes. However, the lack of consistent data standards presents a challenge and hampers the information interoperability. In this paper, we develop a XML-based data model that prescribes a comprehensive set of data standards (semantics and internal structures) for emergency management that attempt to mitigate the information interoperability challenges. The data model is developed using Activity Theory and it is validated through interviews with domain experts. The paper applies the standards in a real case of a fire incident scenario. Further, it complies with the national leading initiatives in emergency standards (National Information Exchange Model) which leverage its implications on the information sharing in emergency context.