View source for Utility of Virtual Operation Support Teams: an international survey

{{Guideline
|Primary Target Country=Australia
|Publishing Organisation=Dr Florian Roth and Dr Timothy Prior, published in  Australian Journal of Emergency Management
|Language=English
|Year Published=2019
|Target Audience=Researchers
|Covers Thematic=Unaffiliated volunteers, VOST
|Audience Experience Level=Intermediate
|Source Website=https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/ajem-april-2019-utility-of-virtual-operation-support-teams-an-international-survey/
|Synopsis='''This is not a guideline but a scientific paper'''


'''Abstract'''
* No other disaster management practice has undergone as much change than has emergency communication. 
** The components of emergency communication, from situational awareness, to response coordination and public information provision are influenced by factors that are fundamentally different from 20 or even ten years ago. 
** It is a fast-evolving environment, involving new technologies and changing communication preferences. 
** Adapting to a highly dynamic and demanding information environment takes up resources from other activities. 
* One response to this rapid change has been the establishment of '''Virtual Operation Support Teams''' to monitor social media, support situational awareness, counter rumours and disseminate official communication. 
** To date, the establishment, utility and added value of these teams has not been the subject of research. 
* This paper examines the evolution of Virtual Operation Support Teams across the globe and how they are being used in seven countries. 
** The paper suggests ways that governments and emergency management authorities can support similar teams and how integration with formal operations might be managed. 
** This may assist countries where Virtual Operation Support Teams are not yet established or where teams are only activated during an emergency event.


'''Conclusion'''
* In a world characterised by advanced information and communication technologies, VOSTs could become a central element of collaboration between emergency management authorities and the actively communicating public. 
* These organisations create information resources that provide practical value for communities struggling to cope with hazards.
* VOSTs have successfully supported emergency managers in handling an increasingly challenging media environment during incident deployments. 
** Drawing on individual skill sets and capabilities, teams have helped to filter relevant information from the abundance of social media content, improve situational awareness of emergency managers and engage actively with the public
|Is Archived=No
}}