Situational awareness (SA) is a critical issue for public safety disciplines, including emergency management, law enforcement, and the fire service. In this video, Erik Rau explores his CHDS Master’s thesis, “Reading From The Same Map: Towards A New Situational Awareness Model For Emergency Management,” which examines the SA model to identify mismatches with emergency management.
About the Presenter
Erik Rau grew up in northern Minnesota, and his formal public safety career began at the University of Alaska Fire Department. Erik attended classes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, then earned a bachelor’s degree in Natural Science from the University of Hawai`i at Hilo in 2005, and a Master’s Degree from NPS CHDS in 2020. Along the way, Erik has worked and volunteered in public safety and emergency management for a variety of local, state, and international organizations and developed focus areas in knowledge systems and cultural resource protection.
He now works for the Oregon Office of the State Fire Marshal as an emergency response planner, protecting people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials. Erik and his family live in historic Albany, Oregon, where they are active in a variety of cultural and civic organizations.
