Aims & Tasks
In recent years, we have witnessed a range of disasters across Europe, including terrorist inspired incidents such as the Madrid train bombings in 2004, the London subway bombings in 2005, floods such as the Elbeflut in Germany in 2002 or earthquakes such as the Marmara earthquake 1999 in Turkey.
Did culture play a role in determining how the people in these disasters responded? More significantly, could a better understanding of cultural response to crisis situations assisst in developing better emergency procedures?
Project objectives
The aim of the european project is to investigate cross-cultural and ethnic differences of human behaviour in crisis situations in order to better tailor security related communication, instructions and procedures with a view to improving evacuation and protection. The project will provide evidence that will be useful to first responders, building designers and those involved in the development of emergency operating procedures for buildings.
Expected results
Two types of research findings and products will be provided by the BeSeCu project:
- An evidence base that will enable designers of buildings to develop culturally appropriate emergency operating procedures.
- An evidence base of inter-individual differences that will be employed to improve communication in emergency interventions.
