deNIS IIplus - computer-assisted crisis management system

The management of catastrophes, as natural disasters or manmade disasters, will only be effective and successful if all relevant information is available in time for decision-makers. During previous large-scale disasters it became evident that information needed for the disaster management was only partially available and that there were fundamental deficits in regard to the flow of information between federal states (''Laender'') as well as communication problems between disaster response teams in the effected regions. On this account in summer 2001 the Federal Ministry of the Interior has decided to develop the ''German Emergency Preparedness Information System (deNIS)''. The aim of the enhanced version deNIS IIplus is to built up a network for the civil and disaster response and to assist as an information and communication system for decision-makers of the Federal Government and the Laender Governments to better co-ordination relief and rescue teams in the event of a natural disaster or technical accident. Correspondingly the primary task of deNIS is to support the decision-making of disaster management authorities. (orig.)