Crowdsourcing in mapping natural disasters

Crowdsourcing is particularly useful in crisis mapping of natural hazards/disasters. Of course, "popular" (or "volunteered geographic") information coming, thanks to crowdsourcing, from citizens/societal actors in the field should be filtered and merged with technical information coming from other sources (GIS, etc.) (WMO 2016). Since we need to develop more and more citizens' contributions through crowdsourcing to crisis mapping and, more generally, to crisis management, many capacity building tools have been developed in the last years for volunteer and community-based organizations, as well as citizen responders, including sensitization to issues such as protection vis-ŕ-vis to natural hazards. For capacity building, it could be useful to consider partnering with small firms already working in developing countries or other vulnerable places that have experienced consulting with the international community and government using GIS and mapping for development or recovery activities.

Note: See source document for full reference.

Cultural Factors: Local knowledge

Hazards: Natural hazards

Disaster Phases: Preparedness

Types of Actors Concerned: Entrepreneurs, Non-active citizens, NGOs

Recommendations:

• The use of new technologies (e.g. Bluetooth) can improve communication strategies in disaster management situations
• Use cultural factors to improve the effectiveness of disaster communication