Article
A Communication, Management and Tracking Mobile
Application for Enhancing Crises Preparedness and Situational
Awareness in the Event
B.Vishnuvardhan Reddy *,A.Vinith kumar Reddy ,K.Siddharth Reddy and S.R.Veera Siva Reddy
Computer Engineering Department, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur U-0748, India
Abstract: The presented Crises Connect App is an application that provides information about the
intensity, time and whereabouts of a recent earthquakes or any other natural disasters. In
addition, the presented application is a mobile application that contains emergency phone
numbers and can provide general information about disasters which people can benefit from
before and after the disasters. With the presented application, people will be able to easily access
information about many crises. Moreover, safe areas in which to shelter after any disaster are offered
to the user . User can send their recent location even in offline mode. User can receive very fast
response after he/she given their live updates to the app. The application also includes emergency
sounds that can be used in the event of an earthquake. A survey system is designed to determine the
intensity of the earthquake as it is felt by the users. After the earthquake, the application presents
the intensity, time, and location of the earthquake to the user.Thus, with this application, users will
be more knowledgeable and prepared for any disaster.
Keywords: natural disasters; mobile application; safe areas; location
1. Introduction
With some natural disasters around the world, great loss of life and property has been
experienced. Thus, it is very important to detect the regions and areas in which natural
disasters will take place with the necessary analyses. With disaster management
information systems, it is possible to carry out aid work faster and reach all affected
individuals after the disasters. With a disaster management information system, the
analysis of the necessary data is provided by a survey system from the moment of the
disaster. In this field, studies are carried out using internet-based solutions around the
world. In these studies, researchers have attempted to create an earthquake map with
macroseismic data taken from regions affected by earthquakes [1].
With the development of technology, human beings can take effective measures to
prevent disasters. Minimizing livable damages, providing information exchange for emer-
gencies that may occur after disasters, and generating feedback are functions supported by
information systems. Today, with the development of technology, studies can be carried
out for post-disaster recovery, and this is made easier with mobile devices. The communi-
cation among individuals in disaster areas via their mobile devices plays a major role in
the response to disasters. For this reason, many studies have been presented on how the
effectiveness of mobile devices plays a role in disaster recovery [2].
The key feature of any earthquake early warning system is its ability to deliver earth-
quake information to users in an intuitive and customizable way. Smartphones and other
mobile devices are constantly connected to the internet today. They are ideal tools for the
dissemination of earthquake alerts to inform a large number of users about the potential
damage of an impending earthquake [3].
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In a study ,it is aimed to provide safety information to those who require it in a
timely manner. It intended to introduce a method to be used to design and implement
universally understandable visual safety cues. It was necessary to develop a multi-
channel approach for effective crisis information allocation. Information needs to be given
so that people can adopt appropriate behavior regarding earthquakes. Since it takes a
long time for trained professionals to reach the wreckage site, safety data must reach
users in a timely manner during an disaster[5]. Establishing a relationship between
natural disasters and city information systems plays a major role in combating natural
disasters. In addition to raising awareness about what will be encountered before, during,
and after an earthquake, studies are carried out on what should be done as a result of these
disasters. In light of these developments, it is necessary to determine to what extent and
which disasters our cities are facing in terms of location, and to organize disaster-
resistant urbanization in the necessary regions. It is an undeniable fact that we have
access to more information and data with the development of technology. It has become
easy to collect more comprehensive information with mapping, visualization, and
severity scales [6].
The use of geographic information systems is increasing nowadays. The importance of
mobile technologies is also increasing, where technology has a strong position in our lives.
With mobile technologies, applications have started to collect location data. By combining
the internet and geographic information systems, the data collected by mobile applications
can be easily transferred to users [7].
A geographic information system’s ability to ensure data flow during disasters
helps in critical areas, such as regulation studies at the disaster point and the determina-
tion of safe areas after the disaster. It ensures that a healthy information system can be
established with the analysis, comparison, and conclusion stages of the data formed in the
systems [6].
In the presented paper, the second section presents a brief overview of the state-of-the-
art research. In the third section, the general structure of the application is given. Then, in
the fourth section, the application is described together with the presented interfaces. In
the fifth section, comparisons with related works are given. In the last section, the paper
is concluded.
2. Related Works
Apps are mostly used for warning and disaster communications. They are suitable for
informing and warning individuals who are actually affected by a hazard, and most of the
time, people have their smartphones in their possession.
Alerts and warnings can be spread easily using wireless devices, mobile phones, and
social media, facilitating the communication process. Alerts and risk communication, and
warnings via mobile phone, need clear and concise messages [8].
One study was presented on how the effectiveness of mobile devices plays a role in
disasters. With the study, a more effective system was offered with mobile-based devices
by raising awareness and providing information flow before, during, and after the disaster.
With that system, information could be given about the severity of the earthquake, safe
hiding places, and how to meet one’s necessary needs [2].
In [9], mobile applications which are purpose-built for disasters are considered as a
tool to present information for tourists to improve their disaster-preparedness and increase
their risk-awareness.
A process-driven and needs-oriented framework was presented in [10] to facilitate the
review of technology-based contributions in disaster management.
In a different study, a network-based early warning system was created with a mobile
application for Android devices that could receive alerts created by the system. The
system was provided by transferring seismic warnings to mobile devices. In the absence
of warnings, the latest information about where the earthquake occurred could be given
with up-to-date data. The application had a special method to estimate the expected area
in the event of an disaster. [3].
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The aim of the study in another article was to determine the communication and coor-
dination problems experienced after an earthquake, to specify the measures taken by the
institutions in any possible earthquake, to specify the communication technologies they use,
and to explain the advantages and disadvantages of social media after an earthquake [4].
The aim of a further study was to develop an open-source GIS environment. It aimed
to create a voluntary data collection application by developing a mobile application. With
the mobile application, users will be able to rate earthquake tremors. With the application,
users will have the opportunity to send the degree of shaking they felt and location data
to the database. With the mobile application, users stored user information and location
information in the database and transferred them to the internet environment [7].
A different study provided the processing of disaster information within the scope
of disaster relief. Then, the data was evaluated. The analyzed systems provide valuable
information about how to proceed in a disaster process. Integrated Disaster Management
Systems can work with client and server computer components [13].
Another piece of research helped to reduce disaster risk with an early warning system
that supports society by developing a mobile application for earthquakes and tsunami.
With the mobile application, together with the early warning system, it was ensured that
people take faster measures and it reduced the loss of life and property [14].
3. Materials and Method
Among the disasters, earthquakes cause especially frequent and heavy damage in
America, China and India. Disasters should be accepted as a part of human life. People
should learn to live with these disasters. The fact that we are not yet able to obtain
information about these disasters in advance makes things more difficult [16].
While fighting against disasters, it is necessary to work in coordination and with
teamwork. Today, the stages of raising awareness against disasters are also developing. For
this reason, being prepared with remote sensing systems plays a big role in raising people’s
awareness [16].
In this study, which is one of the natural disasters that threatens many country , is
discussed.
In the presented paper, it was decided to use smartphones with an Android operating
system (OS). Android OS was presented as a mobile platform. It is utilized in smartphones,
smart televisions, smart watches, and tablets. Because of its wide usage area, an Android
mobile application is used in the presented paper.
To be able to develop an Android application, three ways were presented. These are: 1-
Utilizing the tools of the Android ecosystem and improving a native Android mobile
application only for the Android platform; 2-Utilizing a multiplatform framework: React
Native, Flutter, Xamarin, and Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM), and improving an
application for multiple platforms; and 3-Utilizing Progressive Web Applications (PWAs)
to improve multi-platform mobile applications [17].
Today, to develop mobile applications, two versions are considered which are Android
and iOS. Flutter is an open-source, cross-platform mobile app development framework.
Flutter is used to develop multiplatform mobile applications. Flutter is supported by
Android Studio and Visual Studio Code. With Flutter, applications are built for both
systems on single code base. Additionally, it offers the possibility to build native parts
of applications. Flutter is a UI toolkit from Google to build useful, natively compiled
applications for web, mobile, and desktop. In spite of being a novel platform, Flutter
attracts the attention of large companies, because Flutter decreases the development cost
and bugs in the application. This platform has simplicity comparable to the
development of web applications, and the speed of work on the level of native
applications. Dart is the programming language for Flutter, which compiles into binary
code. Dart is an object- oriented programming language
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Thus, it achieves a speed of operations comparable to Swift, Objective-C, Kotlin,
or Java. Dart allows Flutter to be fast and to personalize each structure. It is also JIT
(Just in Time). Native components are not used in Flutter. An application can be created
quickly with Flutter features, while maintaining a clear architecture. It has a Software
Development Kit (SDK). It helps developers when compiling code into native machine
code, as well as providing a platform which includes reusable UI elements: text inputs,
buttons, sliders, and many more, which allow developers to form visually appealing
applications. With the declarative UI, a user interface can be conveniently created.
Additionally, it provides great control over all elements of the screen. In addition to this,
the syntax of the Dart language is convenient and concise. Furthermore, there is an
increasing industry interest in cross-platform technologies by leading technology
companies, which are Google (Flutter), Facebook (React Native), and Progress
(NativeScript) [18–21].
Thus, the presented Crises Connect App project is designed using Flutter with Dart
language on the Visual Studio Code platform. The App application is divided into some
categories with the designed Main menu as given in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Main page 1.
The menu headings are:
1. Offline mode.
2. A notification system.
3. Recent incidents all over world.
4. Camara option to capture the incident
5. Emergency sound that will enable people to report their location in the event of
disaster.
6. Categories of use cases of this application.
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4. Presented Project
4.1. “Main” Page
In the Project, the “Main” page includes all of the headlines to present a user friendly
application as given in Figure 2. For the “Main” page, a widget was prepared that enables
the program to work. Then, it is redirected to the SplashPage screen.
Figure 2. Main page.
The menu headings are:
1. Daily progress.
2. Share your current location.
3. Emergency contacts (hospitals, rescue team etc.)
4. Send messages to the management
5. Send images of your location facing disaster
6. Send feedback that you reached safe shelter.
Scan Here To Preview The App:
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4. Comparison with Related Works
. The presented application in [29] has less functions when compared to Crises connect
App. The extra functions that are presented by Crises connect App include the earthquake
bag, emergency sounds, and a questionnaire. The items that might be needed after a severe
earthquake are presented in the earthquake bag functionality. The emergency sounds take
place in the app. A questionnaire is presented to collect information about the intensity of
the felt earthquake. Additionally, the information about earthquakes is gained from [25] in
Crises connect App. Instead of hospitals, the locations of safe areas are presented in the
application, because most people already know the locations of the nearest hospitals around
them. However, they do not know the latest locations of safe areas to gather. Furthermore,
the utilized technology is similar in both of the applications.
The applications, NINA, Katwarn, and FEMA were compared in the study. In NINA,
warnings were displayed in a list but Katwarn uses a map. NINA and FEMA offered
emergency tips, unlike Katwarn. Only FEMA presented Meeting Places and safe areas [30,31].
In Crises connect App, warnings are displayed both in a list and on a map. As emergency tips,
earthquake bag preparation tips are given in the app. Meeting Places and safe areas are
presented for users. Additionally, in Crises connect App, a questionnaire system is created
for users. They answer this questionnaire after the earthquake. Thus, recommendations are
given to users according to their answers. Additionally, the given recommendations will
be private, not general.
The study explained that the information needs of agencies and the public evolved
throughout the sequence depending on the impacts experienced by people [37]. Thus,
a great range of required information is provided in Crises connect App. In Crises
connect App, a list of the latest disasters, general information about earthquakes,
locations of safe areas.
People demand to receive push notifications including the following information:
guidance, hazard type, location, time, and source [38]. In Crises connect App, guidance,
hazard type, location, time, and source information, including push notifications, are
given.
It is accepted that utilizing existing interfaces that are familiar to users and using
meaningful visualizations (e.g., images, maps) in applications is a better choice for
disasterapplications [39]. In Crises connect App, a user friendly interface is designed
with a meaningful visualization by using images and maps.
applications [39]. In Crises connect App, a user friendly interface is designed with a
meaningful visualization by using images and maps.
5. Conclusions
Disasters cause both loss of life and property. We need to accept natural disasters as a
part of our lives. We do not have any prior information about these disasters yet. It is very
important to benefit from technology and information systems in a region where we have
to live with this reality.
In times of crisis, our app ensures that vital information reaches its intended recipients,
regardless of connectivity constraints, providing peace of mind and enabling swift response
and recovery efforts. With a commitment to reliability, security, and user- friendliness, the
Crises Connect App sets a new standard in crisis communication solutions.
The idea of safe area in [40] is also considered and worked on in DepApp. The page of
safe areas shows safe locations to go during and after an earthquake in DepApp. With this
page in the application, it is provided to show users safe areas where they can be protected
and take shelter in case of an earthquake.
Funding: This research received no external funding. Institutional Review Board Statement: Not
applicable.Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement: Not applicable.
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Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Funding: This research received no external funding. Institutional Review Board Statement: Not
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Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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applications [39]. In Crises connect App, a user friendly interface is designed with a
meaningful visualization by using images and maps.
6. Conclusions
Disasters cause both loss of life and property. We need to accept natural disasters as a
part of our lives. We do not have any prior information about these disasters yet. It is very
important to benefit from technology and information systems in a region where we have
to live with this reality.
In times of crisis, our app ensures that vital information reaches its intended recipients,
regardless of connectivity constraints, providing peace of mind and enabling swift response
and recovery efforts. With a commitment to reliability, security, and user- friendliness, the
Crises Connect App sets a new standard in crisis communication solutions.
The idea of safe area in [40] is also considered and worked on in DepApp. The page of
safe areas shows safe locations to go during and after an earthquake in DepApp. With this
page in the application, it is provided to show users safe areas where they can be protected
and take shelter in case of an earthquake.
Funding: This research received no external funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement: Not applicable.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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