Tsunami decision support systems TDSS - 2015 : outcomes of the 6th JRC ECML crisis management technology workshop

The 6th JRC ECML Crisis Management Technology Workshop on Tsunami Decision Support Systems was held in the European Crisis Management Laboratory (ECML) of the Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy, from 2ndto 3rd July 2015. The workshop, co-organized with DRIVER (Driving Innovation in Crisis Management for European Resilience) Consortium Partners, brought together stakeholders in the design, development and use of ICT tools for decision support. 20 participants attended the event. A good mix of regional and national service providers was represented, along with European and non-European systems providers and users. The purpose of the workshop was to show the status of the technology in this field, the specific requirements and the benefits in the use of one or another solution. During the first day participants presented their tools, while during the second they had to carry out demonstration exercises on the basis of given scenarios. In the last part of the event, they were involved in a discussion which revolved around a set of questions focused on, inter alia, strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of each tool. The main aims of the discussion were to identify both new opportunities for collaboration and for tools integration and also to "bridge the gap" between the scientific and technical level and the operational dimension. The workshop was a very good opportunity for several research and operational teams to collaboratively discuss Decision Support Systems, lessons learned, ideas for improvements and opportunities for collaboration.