Tilannekuva

Tilannekuva is a concept used in management, security, and emergency operations to describe an integrated, real-time representation of the current state of an environment or operation. It combines data from multiple sources into a coherent picture that reflects assets, people, hazards, events, and trends, with the aim of supporting situational awareness and decision making.

The tilannekuva is often formalized as a common operating picture (COP) maintained by command-and-control structures. It is used across contexts such as civil protection, police and fire services, military operations, industrial safety, and business continuity planning. By providing a unified view, it helps align actions, priorities, and resource deployment.

Key components include data sources (sensor feeds, incident reports, logistics and personnel data, GIS layers), information architecture and standards (data models, interoperability frameworks), visualization tools (maps, dashboards, timelines), and processes for data quality, validation, and controlled information sharing. Effective tilannekuva requires governance, defined roles, and procedures for updating and distributing the picture to relevant actors.

Applications span crisis response, disaster risk management, security operations, aviation and maritime safety, manufacturing continuity, IT incident management, and large-scale events. Benefits include improved coordination, faster and better-informed decisions, optimized resource use, and proactive risk handling.

Challenges involve handling data overload, ensuring data quality and interoperability across systems, latency and reliability of feeds, privacy and legal considerations, and maintaining trust in the presented information. The term is common in Finnish public safety and industry contexts and is closely related to the English concepts of a common operating picture and situational awareness.