Title: An assessment of geo-information use during the 2005 Kashmir earthquake response and recommendations to improve future use

Authors: Wiley C. Thompson

Addresses: Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, United States Military Academy, 745 Brewerton Road West Point, NY 10996, USA

Abstract: The destructive effects of disasters on vulnerable populations will continue to increase as global inhabitants grow in numbers and occupy marginal, often hazard-prone areas. Recent experience has shown that there is a gap between available Geographic Information System technologies and geo-information management tools and their employment during disaster response operations. The goal of this paper is to examine and critique the use of geo-information and related technologies in the Kashmir earthquake of October 2005, discuss what researchers have done to address this topic and make recommendations for improving future geo-information accessibility. This paper draws on observations from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and available literature to examine impediments to operational geo-information management and utilisation during that relief effort. The paper concludes with recommendations on how to increase the accessibility of geo-information to a diverse group of users and better manage geo-information during future disaster response efforts.

Keywords: disaster response; disaster management; hazards; geo-information management; GIS; information management; Kashmir earthquake; crisis management; emergency management; earthquakes; geographic information systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2011.040396

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2011 Vol.8 No.1, pp.26 - 41

Accepted: 18 Nov 2010
Published online: 25 May 2011 *

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