Gap analysis of situation picture information sharing between Arctic and North-Atlantic Region SAR authorities

• Main Author: Halonen, Jonna Kaarina
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: fi=Turvallisuusala|sv=Säkerhetsbranschen|en=Security Management|; Situation picture; Information sharing; Arctic region; Degree programme in Security Management; Bachelor of Business Administration; Arctic; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/264688

The purpose of the thesis was to determine the possible gaps in sharing of information that is related to operative situation picture. The target group was the partners of ARCSAR (Arctic and North Atlantic Security and Emergency Preparedness Network) project. The thesis was part of Laurea University of Applied Sciences International RDI (research, development and innovation) program. The results of the research will be used as support in the future development of ARCSAR project. SAR operations in the Arctic and North-Atlantic region is demanding due to the environment. Effective sharing of information to create situation picture would make the operability of SAR units easier. However, at these regions multiple authorities might operate in same situation but use different technologies. This creates difficulties in building the situational picture. Objective was to find the existing gaps in the information sharing, so that those deficiencies could be detected and fixed in the future. Theoretical framework was based to already existing reports, legal requirements, findings of earlier projects related to the topic area, and familiarizing to the topic through seminar. The thesis includes results of the gap analysis, that was based to the results collected via questionnaire. The gap analysis revealed several gaps, and recommendations were created based on them. The most important notions were the gaps in sharing contact details, and the lack of sharing information about existing resources. The limited collection of necessary information in one accessible place was also observed. Recommendations rose out from the findings are regular communication checks, sharing of contact details, sharing knowledge of available resources, gathering relevant links to the ARCSAR platform, joint exercises with NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and other relevant instances, possible utilization of the finding from another project called CISE (Common Information Sharing Environment), and possible implementation of mandatory sailing plans. The recommendations may be utilized in the ARCSAR project and they may result to more specified studies about the sections that had gaps.