Terence D. Gibson. (2010). It's not just the data: Participatory monitoring and the most significant change. In C. Zobel B. T. S. French (Ed.), ISCRAM 2010 – 7th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: Defining Crisis Management 3.0, Proceedings. Seattle, WA: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Overlaying the technical aspects of participative communications and network design is the question 'how they can secure social change?' Social change is a political act. How can transnational networks gain political influence for local groupings at the national and international level? The Global Network for Disaster Reduction has undertaken a large scale 'participatory monitoring' project with the intended aim of using an activist 'social network' to create 'social demand': influencing policy and implementation within the UN.s framework for disaster reduction. While the project achieved its intended goals, the unintended impacts of the project are argued to be at least as significant; revealing ways that networks can create 'political space' at the local level which can influence policy and access to resources at the national and international level. This paper is presented from a practitioner perspective, linking practice to theoretical work on transnational social movements and participative communications.
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Douglas C. Pattie, & Stefanie Dannenmann. (2008). Evaluation and strengthening of early warning systems in countries affected by the 26 December 2004 Tsunami. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 415–423). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: The objective of this international initiative was to provide an integrated framework for strengthening early warning systems in the Indian Ocean region by building on existing systems and facilitating coordination among specialized and technical institutions. The project supported the development of tsunami early warning systems in collaboration with numerous United Nations and other organizations devoted to disaster risk management and risk reduction. For the practitioner of early warning systems, the project has been divided into two areas-warning system development and preparedness. As a cross-cutting theme, the project promoted multi-hazard end-to-end systems in a regional context by emphasizing (i) risk knowledge, (ii) monitoring and warning service, (iii) communications and dissemination of understandable warnings and (iv) response capability and preparedness. The activities of the project were structured into five components-system implementation, integrated risk management, public awareness and education, community-level approaches and project coordination. Practitioners should note that the work represents a first step for establishing a complete tsunami early warning system within a multi-hazard framework.
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Robin E. Mays, Rebecca Walton, & Bridgette Savino. (2013). Emerging trends toward holistic disaster preparedness. In J. Geldermann and T. Müller S. Fortier F. F. T. Comes (Ed.), ISCRAM 2013 Conference Proceedings – 10th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 764–769). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: Our research reflects an emerging shift in understandings of effective preparedness practices from siloed approaches toward more holistic views. We trace a shifting perspective emerging in literature and present in the early qualitative data of current preparedness experts' interviews within an international humanitarian organization whose core mission is disaster preparedness and response. Designing effective information systems for disaster preparedness requires us to better understand the dynamic and implicit ways practitioners define effective work. Our pilot research begins to uncover preparedness experts' perspectives, with plans for the study to investigate how preparedness practitioners view, conduct, and evaluate their work at the lowest-level1. Our long-term research goal is to realize implications for the more effective design of tools and systems to support disaster preparedness.
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