Situational Awareness as the Imperative Capability for Disaster Resilience in the Era of Complex Hazards and Artificial Intelligence

TL;DR

This paper emphasizes the critical role of situational awareness in enhancing disaster resilience amidst complex hazards and AI, proposing a comprehensive framework for real-time data integration, decision-making, and collaborative response.

Contribution

It introduces a socio-technical roadmap integrating technology, processes, and people to improve real-time hazard detection and decision-making in disaster management.

Findings

A system-of-systems approach enables federated data sharing.

Structured routines and cognitive safeguards improve human decision-making.

Recommendations for developing SA metrics and AI-human collaboration.

Abstract

Disasters frequently exceed established hazard models, revealing blind spots where unforeseen impacts and vulnerabilities hamper effective response. This perspective paper contends that situational awareness (SA)-the ability to perceive, interpret, and project dynamic crisis conditions-is an often overlooked yet vital capability for disaster resilience. While risk mitigation measures can reduce known threats, not all hazards can be neutralized; truly adaptive resilience hinges on whether organizations rapidly detect emerging failures, reconcile diverse data sources, and direct interventions where they matter most. We present a technology-process-people roadmap, demonstrating how real-time hazard nowcasting, interoperable workflows, and empowered teams collectively transform raw data into actionable insight. A system-of-systems approach enables federated data ownership and modular analytics, so multiple agencies can share timely updates without sacrificing their distinct operational models. Equally crucial, structured sense-making routines and cognitive load safeguards help humans remain effective decision-makers amid data abundance. By framing SA as a socio-technical linchpin rather than a peripheral add-on, this paper spotlights the urgency of elevating SA to a core disaster resilience objective. We conclude with recommendations for further research-developing SA metrics, designing trustworthy human-AI collaboration, and strengthening inclusive data governance-to ensure that communities are equipped to cope with both expected and unexpected crises.