Providing in-situ sensor information to crisis management systems during industrial emergencies

On 13 May 2000 Enschede in The Netherlands was startled by a huge explosion in the nearby fireworks factory. 23 People were killed, 945 were injured and about 200 homes were completely destroyed [1]. Afterwards the Commission Oosting came up with some interesting conclusions [2]: "Crisis management is first and foremost information management. If the parties involved are to be able to act effectively to combat a disaster, it is essential that they have the information that they require, when they require it, so that the necessary decisions can be made. " "...in the first hectic hours after the last large explosions. In this period, municipal disaster command in particular had great difficulty gaining an overview of the extent of the disaster, and of the situation in the disaster area." and "The most serious was the uncertainty, both in the disaster area and amongst municipal disaster command, about the possible danger of explosion at the Grolsch factory,....".