{"ID":2879662,"CreatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","UpdatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","DeletedAt":null,"paper_url":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.16669","arxiv_id":"2508.16669","title":"Situational Awareness as the Imperative Capability for Disaster Resilience in the Era of Complex Hazards and Artificial Intelligence","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.","short_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...","url_abs":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.16669","url_pdf":"https://arxiv.org/pdf/2508.16669v1","authors":"[\"Hongrak Pak\",\"Ali Mostafavi\"]","published":"2025-08-21T03:38:47Z","proceeding":"cs.CY","tasks":"[\"cs.CY\",\"cs.AI\",\"cs.HC\"]","methods":"[\"Generative Adversarial Network\"]","has_code":false}