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The Role of Geographic Information Science & Technology in Disaster Management

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Handbook of Disaster Research

Part of the book series: Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research ((HSSR))

Abstract

The proliferation of geographic information science & technology (GIS&T) throughout disaster/hazard research and practice enables and facilitates placed-based approaches for disaster risk reduction. Geographic information systems (GIS), one type of GIS&T geo-technology, is commonly applied in the hazards/disaster context. Rapidly evolving technologies now provide a platform to engage in community-based and geo-enabled mobile technologies have rapidly expanded the potential for widespread geographic problem-solving and decision-making. This chapter focuses on GIS&T potential for disaster spatial (geographic) decision support systems (DM-SDSS), highlighting the ways these technologies can integrate physical and social science approaches to support disaster risk reduction. The first part of the chapter provides a brief background of GIS&T and the basics of a DM-SDSS. This is followed by examples of current GIS applications in disaster management, a discussion of challenges and opportunities, and suggested directions for future research.

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges and thanks Kivanç Ertugay and Serkan Kemeç for their contributions to the chapter that appeared in the first edition of this book. This chapter represents the writing of the present authors and does not necessarily reflect those of previous authors. Thanks is also extended to Rachel Stevenson, who provided comments and insights, particularly on the open source and volunteered sections of the chapter.

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  1. University of Colorado Denver, Denver, USA

    Deborah S.K. Thomas

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  1. University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, New York, USA

    Havidán Rodríguez

  2. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA

    William Donner

  3. Core Faculty, Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA

    Joseph E. Trainor

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Thomas, D.S. (2018). The Role of Geographic Information Science & Technology in Disaster Management. In: Rodríguez, H., Donner, W., Trainor, J. (eds) Handbook of Disaster Research. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63254-4_16

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