scholarly journals Assessment of the adequacy of mobile applications for disaster reduction

Author(s):  
Lucía Navarro de Corcuera ◽  
María del Mar Barbero-Barrera ◽  
Ana Campos Hidalgo ◽  
Jorge Recio Martínez

AbstractNatural events continue to take a heavy toll on human lives. Added to this are the challenge of dynamic at-risk settings, uncertainty, and increasing threats, which demand holistic, flexible, and quickly adaptable solutions. In this context, mobile applications are strongly emerging as communication tools that can assist in disaster reduction. Yet, these have not been sufficiently evaluated. In view of this, the aim of this research is to evaluate the adequacy of mobile applications in disaster risk reduction in reference to some of the deadliest natural events. To this purpose, a two-part methodology is developed. Firstly, a random sample of applications is evaluated and contrasted with the literature. Secondly, the viability of mobile applications is determined based on the Digital Application Potential Index proposed by the authors, cross-referenced in Geographical Information Systems with the WorldRiskIndex. The results show that most mobile applications limit their coverage range to only one stage of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and one type of hazard event, failing to address systemic risk and hampering the scale-up of humanitarian response. For these to become adequate and wide-reaching, strong policies to promote reliability, transparency, and citizen empowerment would be required. The policies establishing the use of mobile applications as a viable tool for DRM must consider reducing the prices of internet connectivity while increasing educational levels, on top of language translation. At this point, the adoption of mobile applications is unable to ensure DRM communication, especially in countries with higher-risk levels, requiring these to be complemented with auxiliary tools. Graphic abstract

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Soo Jeon ◽  
Daeyang Heo ◽  
Sang-Seung Lee

Abstract. Liquefaction causes secondary damage after earthquakes; however, liquefaction related phenomena were rarely reported until after the Mw = 5.4 November 15, 2017 Pohang earthquake in Korea. Both the Mw = 5.8 September 12, 2016 Gyeongju earthquake and Mw = 5.4 November 15, 2017 Pohang earthquake occurred in the fault zone of Yangsan City (located in the south-eastern part of Korea), and both of these earthquakes induced liquefaction. Moreover, they demonstrated that Korea is not safe against the liquefaction induced by earthquakes. In this study, estimations and calculations were performed based on the distances between the centroids of administrative districts and an epicenter located at the Yangsan Fault, the peak ground accelerations (PGAs) induced by Mw = 5.0 and 6.5 earthquakes, and a liquefaction potential index (LPI) calculated based on groundwater level and standard penetration test results from 274 locations in Kimhae City (adjacent to the Nakdong river and across the Yangsan Fault). Then, a kriging method using geographical information systems was used to evaluate the liquefaction effects on the risk levels of facilities. The results indicate that a Mw = 5.0 earthquake induces a small and low level of liquefaction, resulting in slight risk for facilities, but a Mw = 6.5 earthquake induces a large and high level of liquefaction, resulting in a severe risk for facilities.


2005 ◽  
Vol 142 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. RAYFIELD ◽  
P. M. BARRETT ◽  
R. A. McDONNELL ◽  
K. J. WILLIS

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have been applied extensively to analyse spatial data relating to varied environmental issues, but have not so far been used to address biostratigraphical or macroevolutionary questions over extended spatial and temporal scales. Here, we use GIS techniques to test the stability, validity and utility of proposed Middle and Late Triassic ‘Land Vertebrate Faunachrons’ (LVFs), a global biostratigraphical framework based upon terrestrial/freshwater tetrapod occurrences. A database of tetrapod and megafloral localities was constructed for North America and Western Europe that also incorporated information on relevant palaeoenvironmental variables. This database was subjected to various spatial analysis techniques. Our GIS analysis found support at a global level for Eocyclotosaurus as an Anisian index taxon and probably Aetosaurus as a Norian indicator. Other tetrapod taxa are useful biostratigraphical/biochronological markers on a regional basis, such as Longosuchus and Doswellia for Late Carnian time. Other potential index fossils are hampered, however, by taxonomic instability (Mastodonsaurus, Metoposaurus, Typothorax, Paleorhinus, Pseudopalatus, Redondasaurus, Redondasuchus) and/or are not clearly restricted in temporal distribution (Paleorhinus, Angistorhinus, Stagonolepis, Metoposaurus and Rutiodon). This leads to instability in LVF diagnosis. We found only in the western Northern Hemisphere is there some evidence for an Anisian–Ladinian biochronological unit amalgamating the Perovkan and Berdyankian LVFs, and a possible late Carnian unit integrating the Otischalkian and Adamanian.Megaplants are generally not useful for biostratigraphical correlation in the Middle and Upper Triassic of the study area, but there is some evidence for a Carnian-age floral assemblage that corresponds to the combined Otischalkian and Adamanian LVFs. Environmental biases do not appear to strongly affect the spatial distribution of either the tetrapods or megaplants that have been proposed as index taxa in biostratigraphical schemes, though several examples of apparent environmental bias were detected by the analysis. Consequently, we argue that further revision and refinement of Middle and Late Triassic LVFs is needed before they can be used to support global or multi-regional biostratigraphical correlations. Caution should therefore be exercised when using the current scheme as a platform for macroevolutionary or palaeoecological hypotheses. Finally, this study demonstrates the potential of GIS as a powerful tool for tackling palaeontological questions over extended timescales.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Win Win Zin ◽  
Akiyuki Kawasaki ◽  
Wataru Takeuchi ◽  
Zin Mar Lar Tin San ◽  
Kyaw Zaya Htun ◽  
...  

Flood hazard mapping is an effective non-structural measure for sustainable urban planning, protecting human properties, lives, and disaster risk reduction. In this study, flood hazard assessment for the Bago river basin was performed. The flood inundation map of the Bago river basin was developed by coupling a hydrological and hydraulic model with geographical information systems. Flood hazard maps with different return periods were developed. The flood hazard map can be utilized to enhance the effectiveness of disaster risk management activities.


Author(s):  
S. Titova ◽  
B. Siryi

Augmented reality (AR) is the integration of digital information with the user’s environment in real time. AR software use in many different ways and for the needs of cartography too. This technology may be useful for the development of navigational mobile applications and actions with static (paper) maps. There are two main operating modalities for implementation of augmented reality in applications: by markers and by the positioning of customer and surrounding objects (by azimuths determination between customer’s device and real objects). The first way is applied for static maps when another way is applied for navigational mobile applications. Augmented reality provides at least six opportunities, which create better options for working with design and content of maps for cartographers. This technology also provides the new experience in the work on maps for customers. The advantages of using augmented reality in cartography are the partial equation of static maps to geographical information systems, adaptability of cartographic images to the needs of users, improving the quality of design and content possibilities of maps and making actions with maps more attractive for customers. However, this technology is not without disadvantages, which connected with the development of AR-applications and requirements to smartphones. In addition, this article reveals aspects of the creation of augmented maps in cartographic companies.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzieh Mokarram ◽  
Majid Hojati

Abstract. The Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are used to provide more accurate decisions for decision makers in order to evaluate the effective factors of the natural science. One of the popular algorithms of the multi-criteria analysis is the Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA). The OWA procedure depends on some parameters which can be specified by means of the fuzzy logic. The aim of this study is to take the advantage of incorporating the fuzzy logic into GIS-based soil fertility analysis by OWA in the west of Shiraz, Fars province, Iran. In fact, different soil fertility maps with different risk level are prepared in the present study. This study introduces a method for farmers in case of make balance between their budget and their farm soil parameters. A farmer can accept more risk it can use more areas for farming and also the amount of needed budget increases too. For determining the soil fertility maps, the OWA parameters such as potassium (K), phosphor (P), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), organic carbon (OC) and zinc (Zn) were used. After generating the interpolation maps with the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW), the fuzzy maps were generated by the membership functions for each parameter. Finally, by utilizing OWA, six fertility maps with different risk levels (degrees of uncertainty) were made. The results show that by decreasing the risk (no trade-off), increasing the risk, more area within the study area was suitable in terms of the soil fertility. Therefore, using OWA can generate many maps with different risk levels. This leads to different managements based on different financial conditions of farmers.


Geomatics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-278
Author(s):  
Lia Duarte ◽  
Ana Cláudia Teodoro

Background: The advent of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) has changed the way people think and interact with the world. The main objectives of this paper are: (i) to provide an overview of 10 years (2010–2020) regarding the creation/development of GIS open-source applications; and (ii) to evaluate the GIS open-source plugins for environmental science. Methods: In the first objective, we evaluate the publications regarding the development of GIS open-source geospatial software in the last 10 years, considering desktop, web GIS and mobile applications, so that we can analyze the impact of this type of application for different research areas. In the second objective, we analyze the development of GIS open-source applications in the field of environmental sciences (with more focus on QGIS plugins) in the last 10 years and discuss the applicability and usability of these GIS solutions in different environmental domains. A bibliometric analysis was performed using Web of Science database and VOSViewer software. Conclusions: We concluded that, in general, the development of GIS open-source applications has increased in the last 10 years, especially GIS mobile applications, since the big data and Internet of Things (IoT) era, which was expected given the new advanced technologies available in every area, especially in GIS.


Author(s):  
Isak D. Jansen Van Vuuren

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology is a powerful tool that can support decision-making in all the facets of disaster risk management. Being at the centre of all disaster risk management functions, GIS activities such as data acquisition, processing, analysis and visualisation should be seamless from planning to prediction, preparation, response and recovery. A case study of devastating wildfires that destroyed thousands of hectares of agricultural land during August 2011 in the North-West province, South Africa, identifies the lack of a comprehensive framework within which information-based disaster impact assessments are undertaken and which is integrated with the larger context of disaster risk management. Problems relating to the availability, quality and integration of data are typical of the ad hoc approach to the implementation of information technologies, indicating the need for an integrated and coordinated approach. The aim of this paper is to establish a framework for rapid impact assessment, with specific reference to geospatial data management. The framework is put into the theoretical context of disaster risk management and information management, with data acquisition and processing functions being anchored in the principles of information systems theory.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzieh Mokarram ◽  
Majid Hojati

Abstract. The Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are used to provide accurate information on Pedogenic processes and facilitate the work of decision makers. So, MCDA and GIS, can provide a wide range of decision strategies or scenarios in some procedures. One of the popular algorithm of multicriteria analysis is Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA). The OWA procedure depends on some parameters, which can be specified by means of fuzzy. The aim of this study is to take the advantage of the incorporation of fuzzy into GIS-based soil fertility analysis by OWA in west Shiraz, Fars province, Iran. For the determination of soil fertility maps, OWA parameters such as potassium (K), phosphor (P), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), organic carbon (OC) and zinc (Zn) were used. After generated interpolation maps with Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW), fuzzy maps for each parameter were generated by the membership functions. Finally, with OWA six maps for fertility with different risk level were made. The results show that with decreasing risk (no trade-off), almost all of the parts of the study area were not suitable for soil fertility. While increasing risk, more area was suitable in terms of soil fertility in the study area. So using OWA can generate many maps with different risk levels that lead to different management due to the different financial conditions of farmers.


Geomatics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-245
Author(s):  
Lia Duarte ◽  
Ana Cláudia Teodoro

Background: The advent of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) has changed the way people think and interact with the world. The main objectives of this paper are: (i) to provide an overview of 10 years (2010–2020) regarding the creation/development of GIS open-source applications; and (ii) to evaluate the GIS open-source plugins for environmental science. Methods: In the first objective, we evaluate the publications regarding the development of GIS open-source geospatial software in the last 10 years, considering desktop, web GIS and mobile applications, so that we can analyze the impact of this type of application for different research areas. In the second objective, we analyze the development of GIS open-source applications in the field of environmental sciences (with more focus on QGIS plugins) in the last 10 years and discuss the applicability and usability of these GIS solutions in different environmental domains. A bibliometric analysis was performed using Web of Science database and VOSViewer software. Conclusions: We concluded that, in general, the development of GIS open-source applications has increased in the last 10 years, especially GIS mobile applications, since the big data and Internet of Things (IoT) era, which was expected given the new advanced technologies available in every area, especially in GIS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1388-1395
Author(s):  
Ertan Bol ◽  
Aşkın Özocak ◽  
Sedat Sert

The land of the Old Adapazarı Atatürk City Stadium, which was laid in the center of Adapazarı in the 1950s, was designed as the Sakarya National Garden due to the construction of the new stadium structure. In the National Garden, the masonry stone section to the north of the old stadium was requested to be preserved. In this study, a scientific evaluation has been made in terms of superstructure and soil properties in order to prevent damage in a possible earthquake. Eight cone penetration tests were conducted in the field and the results were evaluated. Liquefaction potential index values were determined for each sounding as a result of liquefaction analyzes performed by cyclic stress analysis and the results were associated with Geographical Information Systems and a liquefaction thematic map was prepared. As a result, it has been concluded that liquefaction may occur in the western part of the ground where the foundation of the building is located.


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