Las nuevas tecnologías y el blanqueo de capitales: Second life

The approach taken to the analysis is broadly based on Klein et al. (1997). Their approach examined ways in which decisions could be aided by different interfaces. The decision that must be taken is identified and the reason why that decision is difficult is described. If a decision is trivial or straightforward to make, then there is little point in supporting it using complex technology. Next the information required to make that decision is described and finally the technological assistance required is suggested.

In the current analysis, the potential for LBS is examined. A rich picture of the example incident was built up and framed by the timeline developed by the interviewer and the expert. Knowledge which could be required to perform operational duties is organised around the timeline. The critical decisions which

emerge from this timeline will be entered into the analysis, exploring the information requirements of the decision and the potential for location-based support.

General description of the incident

The incident described was a large fire at a warehouse under development in Beeston, Nottinghamshire. The fire took place at night, near to midnight, and took over seven hours to bring under control. The premises were in the process of being redeveloped into flats having previously been industrial premises built in the 19th Century. Original features had been retained and the building was five storeys high. The fire had started on the fourth floor and was rapidly spreading to the fifth floor and the roof. The local area was surrounded by shops and homes.

Immediate geographic consequences of these circumstances are:

• Layout of the building is unpredictable and unfamiliar since redevelopment is taking place

• Given that the building was once used for industrial purposes, many lift-shafts and voids were still in the building

• The building contained a large amount of oil soaked wood from machinery previously in the building

• The building had many points of entry and access due to its location near the centre of the town and its previous use as a factory.

Assessment (prior to Arrival)

Prior to arrival at the scene the expert relied on prior knowledge of the area gained through direct experience and current weather conditions. A strategic plan was formulated at this stage. Critical knowledge at this stage was the location of water mains and knowledge that the building was unoccupied and undergoing

redevelopment. Additionally, a high level of local knowledge informed procedures to reduce risk to the surrounding community.

“I am actually coming down a hill and I can start to see the building, I can see the fire developing, at 4th, 5th and roof levels so by the time I’m here [at incident] I am putting my kit on and have already started to get some information”

“My assessment was aided in those first 10 to 15 minutes because of how much knowledge I’d got. Had that not been available then the crews would

have had a ops 1 form4, there is an ops1 form which is a risk assessment

form for the premises in our system from when it was occupied. However you have gotta adjust that against it is now actually unoccupied”

“But again, because I know the area, it’s also within our information systems. I know that there is a 18 inch main situated about ¾ of a mile away through the town square”

Assessment (on arrival)

At this stage, the expert gathered critical knowledge about the current deployment of resources and any potential hazards. Data about the building is called on the mobile data terminals if available. Data normally includes 3D CAD plans of the building and

4 _{An ‘ops 1’ form stands for operations form 1. The form contains plan and risk data for the}

data about the surrounding services, again if available. This assessment forms the basis of the strategy used to fight the fire.

During this incident, the following knowledge was used to formulate the strategic plan:

• Location of hazards in and around the building • Knowledge of voids and shafts in the building • Wind Direction

• Location of Fire in the building • Spread of fire between floors • Where the fire is developing

• Location of access points around the building

“They have committed some breathing apparatus5 into what I know is an

unsafe structure because the only access point they’ve had off the main street is through an archway into a building, through a door and then there’s a rickety wooden staircase so they’re actually committed into what I consider an unsafe area”

Fight Fire (Model Selection)

Following appraisal of the incident, an overall strategy for fighting the fire is selected. Two major methods of fire-fighting are used: defensive and offensive.

The degree of risk to expose the crew to is a major factor in model selection. If any casualties are present in the building, the degree of risk to which the incident commander is prepared to expose the crew increases. Broadly, an offensive

strategy involves entering the premises to rescue casualties or reduce hazards. A defensive strategy minimises risk to the crew.

In this case, the risks to the fire crew outweighed any benefit of entering the building so a defensive plan was adopted in the first instance. The information requirements for this phase of the incident consisted of locating aerial appliances to control the spread of fire. The expert used knowledge of fire spread, wind direction and location of the fire.

When the spread of the fire was under control and the risk to the crews had reduced, the offensive model takes over:

“We’ve done an initial assessment, initially. We’ve then gone through a defensive strategy. We’ve then got to a point where the defensive strategy has been successful. We have controlled the fire. We have brought it under control to the point where the aerial appliances can’t actually get there anymore cos they’re either under a bit of debris or it’s just in a pocket so therefore that’s when you’ve gotta start to go to an offensive model.”

During this phase, knowledge of the layout of the building is critical to the fire crews. Thermal imaging is used to assist wayfinding inside the building. Guidelines can be laid by the fire crews in order to navigate back to points outside the building. In addition, normal routes into and out of the building may not be available:

“The danger with this [current scenario] is that the normal emergency exits are likely to be locked. Also there’s no regulation under law that says, at night, when there’s nobody in the building you have to leave the emergency exits accessible. We saw this again at an incident the other week where an emergency exit was open but the inside was grilled. Your crews would expect to be able to use an emergency exit but part of your training is not to expect the expected.”

Fire crew must report their location back to the incident command. Additionally, they will inform other crew members of safe routes into the building.