Building the Right Tool for the Job: Value of Stakeholder Involvement When Developing Decision-Support Technologies for Emergency Management

Abstract

Computer-aided simulation and decision-support tools have a recognized role in planning for, and responding to, extreme hazard events. Multi-network interdependent critical infrastructure program for the analysis of lifelines (MUNICIPAL) is a multipurpose computer-simulation and decision-support tool that was developed to simulate the damage to interdependent critical infrastructure systems during extreme weather events and to guide their restoration following such events. This paper describes the interactive stakeholder-involvement process that was used during the development of MUNICIPAL to increase the likelihood that it would become a useful aid to planners and policymakers, emergency managers, and infrastructure service providers. It demonstrates that a structured process for obtaining input from the user community throughout the process can increase the likelihood that tools such as MUNICIPAL will be adopted for training, awareness raising, and team building among the diverse public and private stakeholders who are responsible for delivering, maintaining, and restoring critical infrastructure services. It also presents a series of steps that emerged from the process that could constitute the core elements of a normative approach to stakeholder involvement when developing similar computer-aided simulation and decision-support tools for emergency management and disaster response.