Abstract
In response to a disaster, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs creates a framework for cooperation in which Information Management Officers from different organisations can work together to provide decision makers with necessary information. Geospatial data are among the first information delivered. Recently, online mapping, remote sensing and the support of volunteers and technical communities wrought dramatic changes in the use of geospatial information, bringing new challenges to the digital humanitarian community. Information Management Officers are tapping alternative data sources, and institutions are adapting their working procedures to this new reality. The perspectives of these Information Management Officers have been studied through semi-structured interviews and monitoring of the tools used during responses to real emergencies. This study determines the required data and the relation with geospatial preparedness. It also explores the potential and limitations of development organisations, community mapping and social networks as alternative sources of information.
Annex 1
Interview guide
1. Interview information
Participant:
Date:
2. Interview Structure and Questions
Questions Block 1 (Qualification questions – Personal background):
What is your experience working with GIS in humanitarian operations? How long have you been volunteering/working for NGO/UN?
Have you been deployed as part of an UNDAC team or similar? How many times? How long ago was your last deployment?
What was the main role/task during the deployment?
Result: Qualifies for interview YES/NO
Questions Block 2 (GIS for humanitarian operations):
Who produces and who uses GIS during humanitarian operations?
How are GIS used during humanitarian operations? What are the most common maps and GIS-based analyses requested?
How would you describe the evolution of the use of GIS for disaster response during the last 5–10 years?
Which datasets are the most important during an emergency? What sources are used to obtain those datasets? What formats, scales, and standards are used?
Is data availability an issue in the initial stages of an emergency response? Is data availability similar among countries or areas within the same country? What happens in the case of an emergency that is located on both sides of a border?
How does inter-agency coordination work?
Questions Block 3 (Development as geospatial preparedness):
How useful for improving the coordination of humanitarian operations would you consider having certain datasets ready beforehand to be in geospatial preparedness?
What requirements (i.e. scale, quality, formats, standards, metadata, latest update) should those datasets fulfil to be considered useful? Do you follow the Dublin Core minimum metadata standards?
Would you consider possibly involving development organisations in data gathering? What would be necessary to facilitate that involvement?
Do you consider community mapping to be a reliable tool to obtain datasets?
How would you consider data gathering from social networks in this context?
Wrap-up
Is there any other issue you would consider relevant to the topic?
Is there anyone else whose opinion may be relevant to this research? Is there anyone else that should be interviewed?
References
Avvenuti, Marco, Stefano Cresci, Fabio Del Vigna, and Maurizio Tesconi. 2016. “Mapping to Prioritize.” Computer 49 (5): 28–37.10.1109/MC.2016.134Search in Google Scholar
Band Jain, Becky. 2016. “Top Datasets for Hurricane Matthew in Haiti.” 2016. https://docs.humdata.org/top-datasets-for-hurricane-matthew-in-haiti/#more-2926.Search in Google Scholar
Breen, Joseph J., and David R. Parrish. 2013. “GIS in Emergency Management Cultures: An Empirical Approach to Understanding Inter- and Intra-Agency Communication during Emergencies.” Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management 10: 477–495.10.1515/jhsem-2013-0014Search in Google Scholar
Comes, Tina, and Bartel Van de Walle. 2016. “Information Systems for Humanitarian Logistics.” In Supply Chain Management for Humanitarians: Tools for Practice, edited by Gyöngyi Kovacs, Karen Spens, and Ira Haavisto, 257–284. Kogan Page.Search in Google Scholar
Cutter, Susan L. 2016. “The Changing Context of Hazard Extremes: Events, Impacts, and Consequences.” Journal of Extreme Events 03 (02): 1671005.10.1142/S2345737616710056Search in Google Scholar
Denscombe, Martyn. 2014. The Good Research Guide for Small-Scale Social Research Projects. Psychological Science. 5th ed. Berkshire, UK: Open University Press McGraw-Hill Education.Search in Google Scholar
Eckle, Melanie, and João Porto de Albuquerque. 2015. “Quality Assessment of Remote Mapping in OpenStreetMap for Disaster Management Purposes.” In Proceedings of the ISCRAM 2015 Conference – Kristiansand, May 24–27.Search in Google Scholar
Haworth, B., and E. Bruce. 2015. “A Review of Volunteered Geographic Information for Disaster Management.” Geography Compass 9 (5): 237–250.10.1111/gec3.12213Search in Google Scholar
Huang, Qunying, and Yu Xiao. 2015. “Geographic Situational Awareness: Mining Tweets for Disaster Preparedness, Emergency Response, Impact, and Recovery.” ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 4 (3): 1549–1568.10.3390/ijgi4031549Search in Google Scholar
Inter-Agency Standing Committee. 2015. “Multi-Sector Initial Rapid Assessment Guidance.” https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/system/files/mira_2015_final.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Kaiser, Reinhard, Paul B. Spiegel, Alden K. Henderson, and Michael L. Gerber. 2003. “The Application of Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems in Humanitarian Emergencies: Lessons Learned, Programme Implications and Future Research.” Disasters 27 (2): 127–140.10.1111/1467-7717.00224Search in Google Scholar
Kawasaki, Akiyuki, Merrick Lex Berman, and Wendy Guan. 2013. “The Growing Role of Web-Based Geospatial Technology in Disaster Response and Support.” Disasters 37 (2): 201–221.10.1111/j.1467-7717.2012.01302.xSearch in Google Scholar
Klonner, Carolin, Sabrina Marx, Tomás Usón, João Porto de Albuquerque, and Bernhard Höfle. 2016. “Volunteered Geographic Information in Natural Hazard Analysis: A Systematic Literature Review of Current Approaches with a Focus on Preparedness and Mitigation.” ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 5 (7): 103.10.3390/ijgi5070103Search in Google Scholar
Lovon, Margarita, and Lois Austin. 2016. “OCHA Coordinated Assessment Support Section Review of Coordinated Assessment and Joint Analysis Processes and Outputs.” Retrieved from: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/ocha-coordinated-assessment-support-section-review-coordinated-assessment-and-joint.Search in Google Scholar
Mccormick, Sabrina. 2015. “New Tools for Emergency Managers: An Assessment of Obstacles to Use and Implementation.” Disasters 40: 207–225.10.1111/disa.12141Search in Google Scholar
McDonald, Brendan. 2010. “IASC Guidelines Common Operational Datasets (CODs) in Disaster Preparedness and Response.” IASC Task Force on Information Management. http://www.humanitarianresponse.info/system/files/documents/files/iasc_guidelines_on_common_operational_datasets_in_disaster_preparedness_and_response_2010-11-01.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Mehta, Amisha M., Axel Bruns, and Judith Newton. 2016. “Trust, but Verify: Social Media Models for Disaster Management.” Disasters 41: 549–565.10.1111/disa.12218Search in Google Scholar
Meier, Patrick. 2015. Digital Humanitarians. How Big Data Is Changing the Face of Humanitarian Response. 1st Editio. Boca Raton, Fl: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.10.1201/b18023Search in Google Scholar
Middleton, Stuart E., Lee Middleton, and Stefano Modafferi. 2014. “Real-Time Crisis Mapping of Natural Disasters Using Social Media.” IEEE Intelligent Systems 29 (2): 9–17.10.1109/MIS.2013.126Search in Google Scholar
OCHA CASS. 2016. “Proposed Protocols for Joint Analysis in Sudden-Onset and in Protracted Crises.” Unpublished.Search in Google Scholar
Ofli, Ferda, Patrick Meier, Muhammad Imran, Carlos Castillo, Devis Tuia, Nicolas Rey, Julien Briant, Pauline Millet, Friedrich Reinhard, Matthew Parkan, and Stéphane Joost. 2016. “Combining Human Computing and Machine Learning to Make Sense of Big (Aerial) Data for Disaster Response.” Big Data 4 (1): 47–59.10.1089/big.2014.0064Search in Google Scholar
Pánek, Jiri, Lukáš Marek, Vít Pászto, and Jaroslav Valu. 2016. “The Crisis Map of the Czech Republic: The Nationwide Deployment of an Ushahidi Application for Disasters.” Disasters 41: 649–671.10.1111/disa.12221Search in Google Scholar
Payne, Karen, Patrick Florance, and Stephen Shain. 2012. “The Role of Data Repositories in Humanitarian Information Management and Crisis Mapping.” Journal of Map and Geography Libraries 8 (2): 118–133.10.1080/15420353.2012.662931Search in Google Scholar
Planella Conrado, Silvia, Karen Neville, Simon Woodworth, and Sheila O’Riordan. 2016. “Managing Social Media Uncertainty to Support the Decision Making Process during Emergencies Managing Social Media Uncertainty to Support the Decision Making Process during Emergencies.” Journal of Decision Systems 25 (1): 171–181.10.1080/12460125.2016.1187396Search in Google Scholar
Plotnick, Linda, and Starr Roxanne Hiltz. 2018. “Software Innovations to Support the Use of Social Media by Emergency Managers.” International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction 34 (4): 367–381.10.1080/10447318.2018.1427825Search in Google Scholar
Poiani, Thiago Henrique, Roberto Dos Santos Rocha, Livia Castro Degrossi, and João Porto de Albuquerque. 2016. “Potential of Collaborative Mapping for Disaster Relief: A Case Study of OpenStreetMap in the Nepal Earthquake 2015.” In 49th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, 188–197. IEE Computer Society. https://doi.org/10.1109/HICSS.2016.31.10.1109/HICSS.2016.31Search in Google Scholar
Raymond, Nathaniel A., and Ziad Al Achkar. 2017. “Data Preparedness: Connecting Data, Decision Making and Humanitarian Response.” 01. Signal Program on Human Security and Technology Standardards and Ethics. http://hhi.harvard.edu/publications/data-preparedness-connecting-data-decision-making-and-humanitarian-response.Search in Google Scholar
San Martin, Roberto. 2014. “Information Management in Disaster and Development: Geographic Information Systems.” 125. CEsA. Lisbon. http://www.repository.utl.pt/bitstream/10400.5/7044/1/CEsA-WP125.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
San Martin, Roberto, and Marco Painho. 2016. “Inequity and Development in Geospatial Preparedness.” In Proceedings of the 22nd Annual International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference Rethinking Sustainability Models and Practices: Challenges for the New and Old World Contexts, 3: 12–24.Search in Google Scholar
See, Linda, Peter Mooney, Giles Foody, Lucy Bastin, Alexis Comber, Jacinto Estima, Steffen Fritz, Norman Kerle, Bin Jiang, Mari Laakso, Hai-Ying Liu, Grega Milčinski, Matej Nikšič, Marco Painho, Andrea Pődör, Ana-Maria Olteanu-Raimond, and Martin Rutzinger. 2016. “Crowdsourcing, Citizen Science or Volunteered Geographic Information? The Current State of Crowdsourced Geographic Information.” ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 5 (5): 55.10.3390/ijgi5050055Search in Google Scholar
Shorbi, Mohammadali, and W. M. A. Wan Hussin. 2015. “The Use of Spatial Data in Disaster Management.” TI Journals World Applied Programming 5 (4): 73–78.Search in Google Scholar
Standby Task Force, and OCHA. 2011. “Libya Crisis Map Deployment. Social Media Mapping for Common Operational Datasets.” http://blog.standbytaskforce.com/libya-crisis-map-report.Search in Google Scholar
Tomaszewski, Brian, Michael Judex, Joerg Szarzynski, Christine Radestock, and Lars Wirkus. 2015. “Geographic Information Systems for Disaster Response: A Review.” Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management 12 (3): 1–32.10.1515/jhsem-2014-0082Search in Google Scholar
UNOCHA. 2009. “Common Operational Datasets for the Management of Humanitarian Information in Asia and the Pacific, v1. 0.” Bangkok, Thailand: UNOCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/AsiaPac_OCHA_CommonOperationalDatasets_v1.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
van den Homberg, Mark. 2017. “Toward a Balkans’ Data for Disaster Management Collaborative?” In Implications of Climate Change and Disasters on Military Activities. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security, edited by Orlin Nikolov and Swathi Veeravalli, 1st ed., 11–18. Dordrecht: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1071-6_3.10.1007/978-94-024-1071-6_3Search in Google Scholar
van den Homberg, Mark, Jannis Visser, and Maarten van der Veen. 2017. “Unpacking Data Preparedness from a Humanitarian Decision Making Perspective: Toward an Assessment Framework at Subnational Level.” In Population and Priority Needs in a Limited Access Crisis Procedings of the 14th ISCRAM Conference. Albi, France.Search in Google Scholar
Verjee, F. 2007. “An Assessment of the Utility of GIS-Based Analysis to Support the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance.” Zhurnal Eksperimental’noi i Teoreticheskoi Fiziki. George Washington University. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/pqdtopen/doc/304869817.html?FMT=AI.Search in Google Scholar
Xu, Zheng, Hui Zhang, Vijayan Sugumaran, Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo, Lin Mei, and Yiwei Zhu. 2016. “Participatory Sensing-Based Semantic and Spatial Analysis of Urban Emergency Events Using Mobile Social Media.” EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking 2016: 44. DOI: 10.1186/s13638-016-0553-0.Search in Google Scholar
©2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
