VNCS: a Volunteer online social Network for immediate citizen awareness and action in Critical Situations

 

Merkouria Dimopoulou¹, Evi Papaioannou²*, Christos Kaklamanis²

¹University of Patras, Greece, vardaki@ceid.upatras.gr

²University of Patras and CTI “Diophantus,Greece, papaioan@ceid.upatras.gr, kakl@ceid.upatras.gr

*Corresponding author

 

Abstract

Exploitation of modern Information and Communications Technology can raise awareness and efficiently support citizen initiatives and actions at a local level for facing emergency situations before they spread.

Motivated by the recent destructive wildfires in Attica, Greece, we suggest Volunteer Network for Critical Situations (VNCS), an online collaborative system for immediate channeling and efficient diffusion of information about emergency situations based exclusively on the contribution of people / citizens located within a small range around the area where an incident occurs.

Our objective is two-fold. On the one hand, we wish to demonstrate how advances in technology and communications can be exploited in order to strengthen social solidarity and social welfare. On the other hand, we wish to provide a practical solution, an online social service, for supporting citizens to turn awareness into action during critical situations prior to the intervention of special government agencies and mechanisms.

Keywords: internet-based online collaborative system, smart devices, dissemination of information, emergency situations, online social network of volunteers, social solidarity and welfare.