5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice 24-28 August 2014 in Davos, Switzerland

1. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
The Use of Crowdsourcing during
Disaster Operations
Mark T. Riccardi, Ph.D.
American Public University System
United States of America

2. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Who Am I?
• Retired US Army officer with 21 years active service.
• Associate Professor and Program Director for Homeland
Security Studies at American Military University.
• Provided military support to multiple disasters in the state of
Colorado during my career.
• Research interest in disaster management.

3. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
What did I research?
• Crowdsourcing: Using the power
of the internet to “virtually”
bring together groups in support
of a cause or event.
• How can disaster managers
crowdsource their event in order
to save lives and speed recovery efforts.
Global Selfie
©Photo by NASA
©Photo by Shutterstock

4. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
The Case
2012 Waldo Canyon Fire
2013 Black Forest Fire
©Photo by RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post ©Photo by NASA

5. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
The Case
2010 Haiti Earthquake
©Photo by Estaban Felix, Associated Press©Photo by NASA

6. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
The Data
• Literature review
• Senior officials from the Colorado Department of Homeland
Security and Emergency Management
• Researchers from Rutgers and Purdue University; part of the
US Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence

7. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Results
• Several themes emerged during pattern coding that could
help emergency planners maximize the benefit of
crowdsourcing during disaster operations:
– Control
– Verification
– Usage

8. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Control
• Key motivation for disaster victims
– This motivation can increase participation in crowdsourcing and social
media reporting
• Will help victims cope with disaster
– Coping could increase quality of reporting
• Victims want to contribute to recovery effort
– Result is a large number of “human sensors”

9. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Verification
• Data from within the disaster as well as from around the
world
• Requires manpower to analyze and verify incoming
information
• Information requires action

10. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Usage
• Develop situation maps
• Monitor social media feeds
• Ushahidi

11. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Challenges
• Stress
• Personnel
• Buy in
• Technology

12. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Examples
• Donations
• Early Warning
• Situational Awareness
• Damage Assessment
• Volunteers
• Communication

13. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Added value for the Post 2015 Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction
• How did your work support the implementation of the Hyogo
Framework for Action:
– This research could help promote the use of knowledge, innovation
and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels
– Strengthen disaster preparedness for response at all levels
• From your perspective what are the main gaps, needs and
further steps to be addressed in the Post 2015 Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction in
– Research:
– Education & Training:
– Implementation & Practice:
– Policy:

14. 5th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Questions?