Popular knowledge definition

Popular knowledge (or Volunteered Geographic Information) can be characterized by a lack of reliability and, more generally, its quality can be poor. This is especially true for information/data collected in an emergency situation and quickly. Therefore, data/information from people on the ground should be "translated" into reliable information (grabbed, filtered, sorted) and, therefore mapped. During this process, some (or a lot of) information is dropped. Nevertheless, much information is sufficiently reliable and, above all, provided early (often before information coming from other sources). This "translation", sometimes, is carried out through procedures sui generis when there is no system, in line with what has just been said, to monitor and to approve information posted by people. It is based on people's honour to put out real information with a 'vote' system in addition; information with a lot of 'no' votes is considered as not reliable and is deleted. Therefore, the system is based on a social checking. This is a way for not just filtering information provided by the crowd, but actually to include the crowd into the filter itself, contributing, further, to citizens' empowerment.

Note: See source document for full reference.

Cultural Factors: Local knowledge

Hazards: Natural hazards

Disaster Phases: All disaster phases, Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery

Types of Actors Concerned: Non-active citizens, National research bodies

Recommendations:

• Use local knowledge, collective memory and shared cultural values to improve disaster preparedness, response and recovery
• Inform citizens about the risk they may face and about possible actions and measures, they can take to reduce vulnerability and better prepare themselves
• Use cultural factors to improve the effectiveness of disaster communication