Threats and Malicious Actors

This track aims to advance understanding of crisis management from a security perspective. Although an all-hazards and all-risks approach is often recommended in crisis management and, by extension, in crisis information systems, this track focuses specifically on the nature of threats and the dynamics of deliberate, malicious, human-made crises, which have become increasingly prominent in recent years.

In contrast to risks that rely on unintentional factors, threats are linked to a perpetrator’s motivation to cause harm. From a practitioner perspective, this distinction can be seen in incident-response protocols: the lead agency, such as law enforcement or the fire brigade, and the structure of command chains often depend on whether the crisis has a malicious origin. This distinction also has implications for the design and use of information systems for responding to and managing security incidents. The unique characteristics of intentional, human-made crises, compared with natural-hazard or accident-based disasters, therefore merit dedicated study.

Intentional crises may include sabotage; cyber, combined cyber-physical, or hybrid attacks; Low Probability High Impact (LPHI) incidents such as the malicious use of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and explosive (CBRNe) materials; violent crime; and terrorism.

This track examines the entire crisis-management cycle from a security perspective, spanning preparedness, response, and recovery. It explores how information systems—including surveillance platforms, threat-intelligence databases, decision-support tools, and interoperable communication networks—can help detect, respond to, and recover from intentional attacks. It also considers measures for protecting public spaces, increasing response capacity, and supporting recovery. Innovative solutions such as CCTV combined with video analytics, drones, and artificial intelligence are welcome.

Contributions addressing these challenges in remote and geographically dispersed communities are particularly encouraged. By addressing the security dimensions of crisis management, the track contributes to the conference theme, “Supporting First Nations and Remote Communities”, helping ensure that all communities are better prepared to prevent, withstand, and recover from malicious acts.

Topics of Interest

Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Case studies of security incidents relevant to the track, including:
  • Conflict.
  • Sabotage.
  • Terrorism.
  • Low Probability High Impact incidents.
  • Cyber, combined cyber-physical, and hybrid attacks.
  • Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and explosive incidents.
  • The fight against violent crime.
  • Maritime, land, and air security.
• Evaluations of information systems, tools, technologies, methodologies, procedures, and protocols for:
  • Perceptions and feelings of security.
  • Security management.
  • Protection of public spaces.
  • Crisis management in conflict zones.
  • Crisis management for security incidents.
  • Threat assessment, analysis, and management.
  • Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.
• Security perspectives addressing the needs and challenges of First Nations and remote communities.

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