Development of an Early Warning and Incident Response System for the Protection of Visitors from Natural Hazards in Important Outdoor Sites in Greece

Chrysostomos Psaroudakis, Gavriil Xanthopoulos, Dimitris Stavrakoudis, Antonios Barnias, Vassiliki Varela, Ilias Gkotsis, Anna Karvouniari, Spyridon Agorgianitis, Ioannis Chasiotis, Diamando Vlachogiannis, Athanasios Sfetsos, Konstantinos Kaoukis, Aikaterini Christopoulou, Petros Antakis and Ioannis Z. Gitas
Additional contact information
Chrysostomos Psaroudakis: Creative People, 14342 Athens, Greece
Gavriil Xanthopoulos: Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, 11528 Athens, Greece
Dimitris Stavrakoudis: Laboratory of Forest Management and Remote Sensing, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Antonios Barnias: Management Body of Samaria National Park, 73011 Western Crete, Greece
Vassiliki Varela: Environmental Research Laboratory (EREL), INRASTES, NCSR “Demokritos”, Agia Paraskevi, 15341 Attiki, Greece
Ilias Gkotsis: Center for Security Studies (KEMEA), 11527 Athens, Greece
Anna Karvouniari: Realiscape Typorama, 26500 Patras, Greece
Spyridon Agorgianitis: Realiscape Typorama, 26500 Patras, Greece
Ioannis Chasiotis: Center for Security Studies (KEMEA), 11527 Athens, Greece
Diamando Vlachogiannis: Environmental Research Laboratory (EREL), INRASTES, NCSR “Demokritos”, Agia Paraskevi, 15341 Attiki, Greece
Athanasios Sfetsos: Environmental Research Laboratory (EREL), INRASTES, NCSR “Demokritos”, Agia Paraskevi, 15341 Attiki, Greece
Konstantinos Kaoukis: Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, 11528 Athens, Greece
Aikaterini Christopoulou: Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, 11528 Athens, Greece
Petros Antakis: Creative People, 14342 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Z. Gitas: Laboratory of Forest Management and Remote Sensing, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-29

Abstract: Safety in touristic destinations is of utmost importance since tourists’ preferences change frequently in response to emerging threats. Natural hazards are a significant risk and, as such, they need to be considered in the effort for safe tourism. Services and systems monitoring and predicting extreme natural phenomena and disasters in sites of special tourist and cultural interest can lead to more effective risk management and incident response. This paper presents Xenios, a system under development in Greece that provides early warning and risk communication services via web-based and mobile phone applications. We present the user requirements analysis contacted, which led to the design of a modular system architecture through a formal Business Process Model procedure. Currently, early warning systems for wildfire, floods, and extreme weather events are offered, based on a fusion of information from satellite imagery, meteorological forecasts, and risk estimation models. Moreover, visitors’ dispersion monitoring via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Wi-Fi connection signals is also offered, along with emergency response planning and ticketing system’s interfacing. The system is built around a modular architecture that permits the easy integration of new subsystems or other danger forecasting modules, depending on the site’s actual needs and limitations. Xenios also provides a mobile app for site visitors, which establishes a communication link for sending alarms, but also serves them with useful tourist information, so that they are encouraged to download and use the app. Finally, the opportunities for supporting a viable business model are also discussed. The results of this study could prove useful in designing other natural risk management systems for sites of cultural and natural interest.

Keywords: tourism; safety; natural hazards; early warning system; risk prediction; outdoor sites; incident response; disaster management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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