Fire, Wind and Water: Social Networks in Natural Disasters

View Sample PDF

Author(s): Mark Freeman (University of Wollongong, Australia)
Copyright: 2011
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
Pages: 11
Source title: Journal of Cases on Information Technology (JCIT)
Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vincent Siuking Lai (Chinese University of Hong Kong), Juergen Seitz (University of Cooperative Education Heidenheim), Nelly Todorova (University of Canterbury), Pauline Ratnasingam (Central Missouri State University), Bongsug Chae (Kansas State University), Shirley Ann Becker (Florida Institute of Technology), Andrew Borchers (Lipscomb University), Schubert S.B. Foo (Nanyang Technological University), Shouhong Wang (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), Sagarmay Deb (University of Southern Queensland), Nabeel Al-Qirim (United Arab Emirates University), Norm Archer (McMaster University), Abhijit Chaudhury (Bryant University), Annette M. Mills (University of Canterbury), Lynda Roberson Louis (Dillard University), George Ditsa (Tshwane University of Technology), Troy Strader (Drake University), Yair Levy (Nova Southeastern University), Jen-Yao Chung (IBM Research), Alan R. Peslak (Penn State University), William Kuechler (University of Nevada, Reno), Sorel Reisman (California State University), Jakob Iversen (University of Wisconsin Oshkosh), Vincent Yen (Wright State University), Erik Beulen (Tilburg University), Vishanth Weerakkody (Brunel University), Steven Sheng-Uei Guan (Xian Jiatong-Liverpool University), Gregoris Mentzas (National Technical University of Athens), Yousif Mustafa (Simplex Systems), Waleed Farag (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), Rob Law (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Barbara Klein (University of Michigan, Dearborn), Albert Boonstra (University of Groningen), Anabela Mesquita (ISCAP / IPP), LILIANA MARIA FAVRE (UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DEL CENTRO DE LA PROVINCIA DE BUENOS AIRES), Rochelle Brooks (Viterbo University), Tom Gross, Jacob Nørbjerg (Copenhagen Business School), James Rodger (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), Chih-Hsiung Tu (Northern Arizona University), Nina McGarry (Marymount University), Abdul Samad Kazi (VTT-Technical Research Centre of Finland), Jakov Crnkovic (SUNY , University at Albany) and Mehdi Khosrow-Pour (Information Resources Management Association, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/jcit.2011040105
ISSN: 1548-7717
EISSN: 1548-7725

Keywords: Information Resources Management / Information Science Reference / Library and Information Science

Purchase

View on the publisher's website for pricing and purchasing information.

Abstract

This case examines the issue of increasing adoption of Social Networking Technologies (SNTs), particularly microblogging, for emergency management practices during natural disasters. It discusses the technologies and how they are an integral part of information transfer for citizens in the geographic region affected by the natural disaster. This case presents the progression of how SNTs have been used during and in the aftermath of natural disasters in Australia between 2009 and 2011; these events are used as ‘organization’ for the paper. Accurate and timely information during natural disasters is essential in providing citizens with details about whether they should stay or leave an area. Traditionally, information was provided through television and radio broadcasts; however, these types of communications were one-way and only allowed for the push of information to citizens. SNTs are being used by the media and emergency organizations to provide information to citizens. These technologies are dynamic in their approach, allowing for knowledge sharing of all parties involved.

The IRMA Community

Research IRM

Fire, Wind and Water: Social Networks in Natural Disasters

Purchase

Abstract

Related Content

IRMA Sponsors