The 2010 earthquake in Haiti, which killed an estimated 316,000 people, offered many lessons in mass-fatality management (MFM). The dissertation defined MFM in seeking information and in recovery, preservation, identification, and disposition of human remains. Specifically, it examined how mass fatalities were managed in Haiti, how affected individuals sought information about fatalities, and what needs motivated them. Data from 28 in-depth, partially structured interviews, conducted during two field visits ending 21 weeks after the earthquake, were included in a case study. The data analysis revealed the MFM was severely inadequate. One interviewee, a senior UN official, stated, "There was no fatality management." The analysis also indicated a need to learn whereabouts of the deceased motivated individuals to visit spots the deceased were last seen at. It sought to illumine information-seeking practices, as discussed in the works of J. David Johnson and others, by developing a new model of information flow in MFM. In addition, it reaffirmed Donald Case and Thomas Wilson's theoretical proposition – that need guides any seeking of information – in the case of Haiti. Finally, it produced recommendations regarding future directions in MFM for emergency managers and information scientists, including possible use of unidentified body parts in organ transplants. Overall, the dissertation, which was supported by two grants of the National Science Foundation, attempted to add to relatively scanty literature in information seeking in MFM.

Context: Accurate decision-making requires updated and precise information to establish the reality of an overall situation. New data sources (e.g., wearable technologies) have been increasing the amount of available and useful data, which is now called big data. This has a great potential for transforming the entire business process and improving the accuracy of decisions. In this context, disaster management represents an interesting scenario that relies on big data to enhance decision-making. This is because it must cope with data provided not only by traditional sources (e.g., stationary sensors) but also by emerging sources - for instance, information shared by local volunteers, i.e., volunteered geographic information (VGI). When combined, these data sources can be regarded as large in volume, with different velocities, and a variety of formats. Furthermore, an analysis is required to confirm their veracity is required since these data sources are disconnected and prone to various errors. These are the 4Vs that characterize big data. Gap: However, although all these data open up further opportunities, their huge volume, together with an inappropriate data integration and unsuitable visualization, can result in information being overlooked by decision-makers. This problem arises because the integration of the available data is hampered by the intrinsic heterogeneity of their features (e.g., their occurrence in different formats). When integrated, this information also often fails to reach the decision-makers in a suitable way (e.g., in appropriate visualization formats). Moreover, there is not a clear understanding of the decision-makers needs or how the available data can meet these needs. Objective: In light of this, this thesis presents an approach for improving decision-making with heterogeneous geospatial big data based on spatial decision support systems and volunteered geographic information in disaster management. Methods: Systematic mapping studies were conducted to identify gaps in research studies with regard to the use of volunteered information and spatial decision support systems in disaster management. On the basis of these studies, two design science projects were carried out. The first of these aimed at defining the elements that are essential for ensuring the integration of heterogeneous data, whereas the second project aimed at obtaining a better understanding of decision-makers needs. A cross-organizational action research project was also conducted to define the design principles that should be observed for a spatial decision support system to effectively support decision-making with heterogeneous geospatial big data. A series of empirical case studies was undertaken to evaluate the outcomes of these projects. Results: The overall approach thus consists of the three significant outcomes that were derived from these projects. The first outcome was the conceptual architecture that defines the integration of heterogeneous data sources. The second outcome was a model-based framework that describes the connection of decision-making with appropriate data sources. The third outcome is based on the framework and comprises a set of design principles for guiding the development of spatial decision support systems for decision-making with heterogeneous geospatial big data. Conclusion: This thesis has made a useful contribution to both practice and research. In short, it defines ways of integrating heterogeneous data sources, provides a better understanding of decision-makers needs, and supports the development of a spatial decision support system to effectively assist decision-making with heterogeneous geospatial big data. / Contexto: Uma tomada de decisão precisa exige informações mais precisas e atualizadas para estabelecer a realidade da situação geral. Novas fontes de dados (e.g, tecnologias vestíveis) tem aumentado a quantidade de dados úteis disponíveis, que agora é chamado de big data. Isso tem grande potencial para transformar todo o processo de negócio e melhorar a precisão na tomada de decisão. Neste contexto, a gestão de desastres representa um interessante cenário que depende de big data para aprimorar a tomada de decisão. Isso porque, ela tem que lidar com dados fornecidos não apenas por fontes tradicionais (e.g., sensores estáticos), mas também por fontes emergentes por exemplo, informações compartilhadas por voluntários locais, i.e., as informações geográficas de voluntários (VGI). Quando combinadas, estas fontes de dados podem ser consideradas grandes em volume, com diferentes velocidades e uma variedade de formatos. Além disso, uma análise com relação à sua veracidade é necessaria uma vez que estas fontes de dados são desconectadas e propensas à erros. Estes são os 4Vs que caracterizam big data. Problema: No entanto, embora todos estes dados abrem novas oportunidades, seu grande volume em conjunto com uma integração inapropriada e uma visualização inadequada, podem tornar as informações ignoradas por tomadores de decisão. Isso ocorre, pois, a integração dos dados disponíveis torna-se complicada devido a heterogeneidade intrínseca nas suas características (e.g., dados em formatos diferentes). Quando integradas, estas informações frequentemente também não chegam aos tomadores de decisão em uma condição apropriada (por exemplo, no formato de visualização adequado). Além disso, não existe uma clara compreensão sobre as necessidades dos tomadores de decisão ou sobre como os dados disponíveis podem ser usados para atender essas necessidades. Objetivo: Dessa forma, esta tese de doutorado apresenta uma abordagem para melhorar a tomada de decisões com grande volume de dados espaciais heterogêneos baseada em sistemas de suporte à decisão espacial e informações geográficas de voluntários na gestão de desastres. Métodos: Mapeamentos sistemáticos foram conduzidos para identificar lacunas de pesquisa no uso de dados voluntários e sistemas de suporte à decisão na gestão de desastres. Com base nestes estudos, dois projetos de design science foram conduzidos. O primeiro deles buscou definir elementos essências para entender a integração de dados heterogêneos, enquanto o segundo projeto buscou fornecer um melhor entendimento das necessidades dos tomadores de decisão. Também foi conduzido um projeto de pesquisa-ação interinstitucional para definir princípios de projeto que deveriam ser observados para um sistema de suporte à decisão espacial ser efetivo no apoio a tomada de decisão com grande volume de dados espaciais heterogêneos. Uma série de estudos de caso empíricos foram conduzidos para avaliar os resultados destes projetos. Resultados: A abordagem geral então é composta pelos três resultados significantes que foram derivados destes projetos. Em primeiro lugar, uma arquitetura conceitual que especifica a integração de fontes de dados heterogêneas. O segundo elemento é uma estrutura baseada em modelo que descreve a conexão entre a tomada de decisão com as fontes de dados mais adequadas. Com base nesta estrutura, o terceiro elemento consiste em um conjunto de princípios de design que guiam o desenvolvimento de um sistema de suporte à decisão espacial para tomada de decisão com grande volume de dados espaciais heterogêneos. Conclusão: Esta tese de doutorado realizou importantes contribuições para a prática e pesquisa. Em resumo, ela define formas para integrar fontes de dados heterogêneos, fornece uma melhor compreensão sobre as necessidades dos tomadores de decisão e ajuda no desenvolvimento de sistemas de suporte à decisão espacial para tomada de decisão com grande volume de dados espaciais heterogêneos.

Die Hochwasserereignisse der letzten Jahre haben Mängel bei der schnellen Verfügbarkeit des klassischen Darstellungs-, Entscheidungs- und Analyseinstruments Karte offenbart. Die Erfahrungen von 1997 und 2002 verdeutlichen, dass eine homogene digitale Datengrundlage, die neben rein topographischen zusätzlich auch fachspezifische Informationen des Hochwasserschutzes enthält, für eine effektive Bekämpfung solcher Ereignisse notwendig ist. <br><br> Mit den Daten des ,Amtlichen Topographisch-Kartographischen Informationssystems&rsquo; (ATKIS) liegen topographische Basisdaten in graphikfreier Form als digitales Landschaftsmodell (DLM) flächendeckend für die Bundesrepublik vor. Anhand der exemplarischen Ableitung von nutzerorientierten Kartenmodellen aus diesen graphikfreien Daten wurde deren Eignung für den besonderen Verwendungszweck im Rahmen eines Hochwasserschutz-Informationssystems überprüft. Als Anwendungsbeispiel wurde das Gebiet der Ziltendorfer Niederung, die während des Oder-Hochwassers 1997 überflutet wurde, gewählt. <br><br> In Expertengesprächen wurden zunächst Inhalte identifiziert, die für einen wirksamen Hochwasserschutz Relevanz besitzen; diese Inhalte wurden anschließend analog zum ATKIS-Systemdesign strukturiert und als Objekte eines separaten Objektbereichs im digitalen Fachmodell (DFM) erfasst. <br><br> Bei der Ableitung von (Bildschirm-) Karten aus den graphikfreien Daten wurden jeweils unterschiedliche Kriterien für die Basiskarte und die Fachinhalte berücksichtigt. Dabei wurden verschiedene kartographische Regeln und Gesetze mit dem Ziel der prägnanten Visualisierung und damit der eindeutigen Lesbarkeit der Karten angewendet. Beispielhaft sei hier die Schaffung einer visuellen Hierarchie zwischen Basiskarte und Fachinhalten genannt. Die besonderen Nutzungsbedingungen von Karten im Einsatzfall erfordern u.a., dass die Karten auch von Personen, die nur über geringe oder keine Erfahrung im Umgang mit Karten verfügen, schnell und einfach zu lesen sind, um so eine sichere Informationsvermittlung zu gewährleisten. Voraussetzung dafür ist einerseits die Beschränkung auf die Darstellung der wesentlichen Inhalte, andererseits die Verwendung leicht lesbarer Kartenzeichen. Aus diesem Grund wurden einheitliche Kartenzeichen zur Darstellung der Fachinhalte entwickelt, die entweder aus allgemein bekannten Symbolen, aus den im Katastrophenschutz üblicherweise verwendeten sog. taktischen Zeichen oder aus Fachzeichen des Hochwasserschutzes abgeleitet wurden. <br><br> Die entwickelten Kartenmodelle wurden abschließend in qualitativen Experteninterviews in Bezug auf ihre Qualität und Verwendbarkeit im Hochwasserschutz geprüft. Die Auswertung der Interviews ergab eine insgesamt positive Beurteilung der Karten für den Einsatz in Hochwasserschutz-Informationssystemen. Damit leistet die vorliegende Arbeit einen Beitrag zur Entwicklung von (Bildschirm-) Karten zur Unterstützung bei der Entscheidungsfindung im Katastrophenmanagement. / The flooding events of recent years have revealed shortcomings concerning the speedy availability of traditional presentation, decision-making and analysis instrument maps. The experiences of 1997 and 2002 show that a homogenous digital dataset comprising relevant information on flood control measures as well as purely topographical information is essential to effectively combat such events. <br><br> Data from the official cartographic and topographic information system (Amtliches Topographisch-Kartographisches Informationssystem - ATKIS) provide basic non-graphic topographic data as digital landscape models (DLM) for the whole of the Federal Republic of Germany. By means of the exemplary derivation of user-oriented map models from these non-graphic data, their suitability for deployment in the context of a flood protection information system was verified. The Ziltendorfer Niederung area, which was flooded by the Oder in 1997, was chosen as an example. <br><br> First of all, in expert interviews subject matter that was relevant for effective flood control was identified. This subject matter was than structured analogous to the ATKIS system design and recorded in the digital thematic model (DFM). <br><br> Different respective criteria for the basis map and specialist content were taken into account with the derivation of (screen) maps from the non-graphic data. Thereby the different cartographic rules and guidelines were used with the aim of succinct visualisation and thus clear readability of the maps. The creation of a visual hierarchy between the components basis map and specialist content is cited as exemplary here. <br><br> Maps also sometimes need to be read quickly and easily by persons who have little or no knowledge of how to do this in order to assure reliable communication of information. This is conditional on the one hand on the presentation of the intrinsic content, and on the other the use of easily readable conventional map signs. For this reason standard conventional signs for the presentation of specialist content were developed that were either derived from commonly known symbols, from so-called tactical signs commonly used in disaster control, or from specialist signs from flood control. <br><br> The developed map model was finally verified with respect to its quality and usability in flood control. Evaluation of the interviews showed an overall positive assessment of the maps for use in flood protection information systems. This paper thus contributes to the development of (screen) maps to support the decision-making processes of disaster management.

<p>A disaster always means a huge death toll, displacement and inconceivable destruction for a poor country such as Bangladesh. Recently, Bangladesh has taken a holistic approach to prioritising interrelated activities and the involvement of various organisations in disaster management. A number of disaster management committees (DMCs) have been formed to coordinate and implement risk reduction measures. But the levels of success of these organisations have varied in different regions. Improper consideration of local knowledge, corruption of actors, lack of coordination and capacity of actors, etc., are perceived as major causes of this. Primarily, this mini-thesis aims to measure the impact of self-organisation in disaster risk management.</p>

Governments are responsible for administrative arrangements dealing with disasters. Effective policies play a vital role in mitigating the impact of disasters and reducing likely losses of life and property. Yet, it had been noted that such losses were increasing, raising questions about efficacy of government policies and the factors that made them effective. This study adopted a comparative method, responding to a long-standing demand of disaster research, for examining the record in India. There were noticeable differences among its states, with some having undertaken comprehensive reform in an all-hazards approach, while others continued with old policies. This research studied four states with the objective of identifying variables that were critical in undertaking policy reform for building capacities. The roles of economic resources, democratically decentralized institutions, political party systems and focusing events were examined. Findings revealed that these factors had varying impact on state capabilities. Economic resources were an inevitable part of disaster management, but did not necessarily translate into policy reform. Panchayati Raj Institutions, which were democratically decentralized bodies, displayed tremendous potential. However, their role was limited mostly to the response phase, with states severely circumscribing their involvement. The nature of political party systems was able to explain policy reform to an extent. Cohesive systems in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Orissa correlated with administrative capacities, unlike in fragmented Bihar. However, anti-incumbency sentiments and strong community mobilization impacted contestation more than electoral salience of public goods. The most nuanced and significant explanation was provided by experience of focusing events. States that suffered major disasters revealed unmistakable evidence of double-loop learning, leading to comprehensive policy reform and capacity building. This research provides empirical support to theory about the role of focusing events and organizational learning in policy reform. Methodologically, it underscores the importance of the comparative approach, and its successful application in a federal framework. The significance of this research is most for policy makers and practitioners, as it serves to alert them on the need for reform without waiting for the next big disaster to catch them unprepared.

To a large extent, natural phenomenon like earthquakes, floods, lanslides and etc may seem &ldquo / natural events&rdquo / which are out of human control. In fact, the sociopolitical structure is the main cause of earth tremors which turn into disasters. What is notable and striking is that, because of institutional and social vulnerabilities and little or misguided efforts for disaster loss mitigation, natural events may turn into disasters resulting negative and devastating consequences. Institutional vulnerabilities connote a lack of local administrations&rsquo / capacity for disaster mitigation planning, furthermore awareness for accreting local stakeholders for disaster loss reduction. Social vulnerabilities, refers to miss-knowledge and lack of awareness for disasters in the society. In Turkey, it is hard to say that there has never been efforts for disaster loss reduction, whereas / the main focus of the state agencies has been on post-disaster emergency relief, literally wound healing for decades. Generally speaking, localities which experience a disaster may encounter significant losses in development, hence a significant decrease in local capacities which takes enormous resources to restore. The housing stock and urban fabric, which inherit an historical background weaved by missguided disaster policy that only focus on post-disaster emergency relief phase, pictures the extent of the problem in Turkey. In addition, both &ldquo / institutional errors which lead to underachievement in disaster policy and practice&rdquo / and &ldquo / opportunities for building robust and resilient forms of institutions&rdquo / come into local agenda. Errors, which might have been altered by long term and comprehensive modes of local planning for disasters, may lead to underachievement by local agents. To achieve such a model, we are in need to carry out qualitative and quantitative data collecting and analyzing techniques in different phases. The two analysis techniques are in-depth interviews (IDI) and drawing Concept Maps that will be conducted in the analyses process with local respondents selected by snowball technique.

Disasters are always local in their impact, and therefore approaches towards their alleviation need to be designed and implemented based on this certainty. Since the 1960s there has been a constant evolution in the common understanding of international disaster management. Various measures and structures were created to plan for emergency relief and the management of a disastrous event. Despite international efforts which aimed to reduce the impact of natural and anthropogenic hazards on humankind, very little progress was made. Loss of life, property, infrastructure and economic livelihoods are on the increase without any indication of improvement. Developmental activities can in most instances be blamed for the high level of disaster risk present in communities. On the other hand, very little has been done in the international arena (through a multi-disciplinary approach) to ensure a developmental focus on disaster risk. This study investigates the current state of disaster management practices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) by benchmarking its activities against established frameworks applied in the developed world for disaster management. The aim of this thesis was primarily to provide a comprehensive framework for disaster risk management in KSA. Such a framework will serve as a guideline for all spheres of government on a strategic level in order to implement disaster risk management. Conclusions to the research demonstrate the importance of linking government policy and practice on disaster risk management across different stakeholders involved in managing disaster risk. This study proposed an integrated model for disaster management by introducing the dual paradigm of disaster management (proactive mindset and reactive mindset). In a nutshell, this thesis aimed to develop a comprehensive multi-disciplinary disaster risk management framework that would be tailor-made for the strategic management arena in Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior (Directorate of Civil Defence). The research provides the reader with a background study on the international development of the concept of disaster risk management and its components. It focuses on disaster risk management within the Saudi Arabian context. Four international disaster risk management frameworks are analytically compared and aligned with international best practices. Subsequently, the proposed Framework for Disaster in Saudi Arabia is analysed.

The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is a program that provides medical countermeasures during a public health emergency. A public health emergency can be a natural or man-made disaster, an act of terrorism, or a pandemic. The Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) was created to help the nation’s largest metropolitan regions develop the ability to provide SNS life-saving medications in the event of a large-scale bioterrorist attack or naturally occurring disease outbreak. To address the risks associated with a public health emergency the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires a comprehensive emergency response plan for distributing SNS/CRI materials quickly and efficiently. The Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness (FCDHW) is tasked with responsibility for distributing and dispensing of SNS/CRI medical assets delivered during a public health emergency. FCDHW is also tasked with the development of a comprehensive response plan. Past TAR scores revealed that passing SNS/CRI audits has been a challenge for FCDHW. A case study was conducted to note if the development of an information management system could facilitate successful future SNS/CRI audits. A needs assessment revealed that an information management system for emergency preparedness and response compliance was needed. Microsoft SharePoint 2007 was used to develop the information management system. SharePoint contains a secure document repository that linked the work products of all relevant internal and external stakeholders and revealed compliance deficiencies early enough to allow for corrective actions. The result was a passing TAR score that was a 59 point increase from the last published score.

<p>A disaster always means a huge death toll, displacement and inconceivable destruction for a poor country such as Bangladesh. Recently, Bangladesh has taken a holistic approach to prioritising interrelated activities and the involvement of various organisations in disaster management. A number of disaster management committees (DMCs) have been formed to coordinate and implement risk reduction measures. But the levels of success of these organisations have varied in different regions. Improper consideration of local knowledge, corruption of actors, lack of coordination and capacity of actors, etc., are perceived as major causes of this. Primarily, this mini-thesis aims to measure the impact of self-organisation in disaster risk management.</p>

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