@article {bnh-5245, title = {The Good, the bad, and the uncertain: contributions of volunteered geographic information to community disaster resilience}, journal = {Frontiers in Earth Science}, year = {2018}, month = {11/2018}, abstract = {

The adoption of location-based information sharing technologies, and the emergence of volunteered geographic information (VGI), has seen changes to community involvement in disaster management. The concept of resilience, and recognition of the capacity for renewal, re-organization, and societal development, has gained currency in disaster management. However, the opportunities presented by spatially referenced data for sourcing contextual information for understanding processes of social{\textendash}ecological resilience and fostering local inclusion has not been examined. We examine how web 2.0 platforms, including VGI and social media, can support resilience building, and critically evaluate how these technologies potentially undermine resilience. We concentrate our analysis on factors deemed important for community disaster resilience through review of recent literature, policy documents, and author experience. Establishing which elements of VGI in disaster management should be emphasized, such as increased flexibility or individual empowerment, and which require careful management, such as compromised privacy or data quality, will enable VGI to become less opportunistic, data-centric, disruptive, and exclusionary, and allow for more reliable, community-centric, complementary, and socially inclusive practices. Incorporating awareness and training on collaborative geoweb technologies into disaster preparedness programs will equip individuals to make informed judgments on VGI content and reduce unintended consequences of social media initiatives.

}, doi = {10.3389/feart.2018.00183 }, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2018.00183/full$\#$h1}, author = {Haworth, B and J Whittaker and R{\'o}is{\'\i}n Read and Eleanor Bruce} } @article {bnh-3600, title = {Implications of Volunteered Geographic Information for Disaster Management and GIScience: A More Complex World of Volunteered Geography}, journal = {Annals of the American Association of Geographers}, year = {2017}, month = {06/2017}, pages = {1-15}, chapter = {1}, abstract = {

Volunteered geographic information (VGI) refers to changing practices in recent years associated with technological advancements that provide increasing opportunities for private citizens to produce geographic information. VGI activities range from public contributions to online crowdsourced mapping projects to location-related posts on social media sites. These changing practices have important implications for citizens, traditional authoritative systems of geographic knowledge production, and the disciplines of geography and GIScience. One field affected by VGI is disaster management, with numerous studies reporting on the opportunities associated with increased citizen data and involvement in crisis response. There are also significant limitations to the application of VGI, however, notably related to scale, the digital divide, trust, uneven power relations, and adaptability of existing authoritative systems, such as formal emergency management. In this article, these issues and more are critically discussed through examination of three discreet yet related studies of VGI in community bushfire (wildfire) risk reduction in Australia. Although each study has its own unique contributions already published, the collective insight gained by analyzing the studies together provides new and deeper perspectives on critical issues of relevance to both disaster management policies and geography and GIScience. Importantly, the article advocates for greater emphasis on the social aspect of VGI, with citizens mapping and sharing knowledge together, rather than on individual observations and large volumes of data. Further, it raises questions of some of the much-promoted promises of VGI, particularly those that suggest that VGI can allow {\textquotedblleft}everyone{\textquotedblright} to contribute to geographic knowledge production.

}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2017.1321979}, url = {http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/24694452.2017.1321979?journalCode=raag21\&}, author = {Haworth, B} } @article {bnh-3228, title = {Assessing the application and value of participatory mapping for community bushfire preparation}, journal = {Applied Geography}, volume = {76}, year = {2016}, month = {11/2016}, abstract = {

The increased ease for individuals to create, share and map geographic information combined with the need for timely, relevant and diverse information has resulted in a new disaster management context. Volunteered geographic information (VGI), or geographic information voluntarily created by private citizens enabled through technologies like social media and web-based mapping, has changed the ways people create and use information for crisis events. Research has focussed on disaster response while largely ignoring prevention and preparedness. Preparing for disasters can reduce negative impacts on life and property, but despite strategies to educate communities, preparation remains low. This study assesses the application and value of VGI in bushfire risk reduction through a participatory mapping approach. It examines VGI as a social practice and not simply a data source by considering the user experience of contributing VGI and the potential for these activities to increase community connectedness for building disaster resilience. Participatory mapping workshops were held in bushfire-risk communities in Tasmania. Workshop activities included a paper-mapping exercise and web-based digital mapping. Survey results from 31 participants at three workshops indicated the process of mapping and contributing local information for bushfire preparation with other community members can contribute to increased social connectedness, understanding of local bushfire risk, and engagement in risk reduction. Local knowledge exchange was seen as valuable, but the social dimension appeared even more engaging than the specific information shared. Participants reported collaborative maps as effective for collating and sharing community bushfire information with a preference for digital mapping. Some limitations of online sharing of information were also reported by participants, however, including potential issues of privacy, data quality and source trustworthiness. Further work is needed to extrapolate findings from the study sample to the broader population.

}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2016.09.019}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622816304520}, author = {Haworth, B and J Whittaker and Eleanor Bruce} } @mastersthesis {bnh-3521, title = {Assessing the potential, application, and implications of volunteered geographic information in disaster risk reduction}, volume = {Doctor of Philosophy}, year = {2016}, month = {04/2017}, pages = {205}, school = {The University of Sydney}, type = {PhD}, address = {Sydney}, abstract = {

This thesis examines the potential role of volunteered geographic information (VGI) practices in fostering community engagement in disaster risk reduction (DRR). Through various technological innovations citizens can now collect, share and map geographic information for disaster management in unprecedented ways. VGI refers to the widespread voluntary engagement of private citizens in the creation of geographic information, predominantly through sources such as social media, smartphones and inexpensive online mapping tools. VGI represents shifts in the ways geographic information is created, shared, used and experienced. This has important implications for various applications of geospatial information, including disaster management, and geographers, with a broad cross-section of skills spanning modern critical human geography and the technical components of GIS, are ideally positioned to examine the impacts of VGI. VGI technologies enable cost-effective, rapid sharing of diverse geographic information from community members at all stages of the disaster management cycle, including prevention, preparation, response and recovery (PPRR). But VGI also presents new challenges, including issues of data quality, data management, liability and the digital divide. Research in this emerging area has focussed on disaster response while largely ignoring prevention and preparedness. Preparing for disasters dramatically reduces the likelihood of negative impacts on life and property and there is a global need for increased community engagement in DRR. This thesis provides valuable insight into how VGI can contribute to addressing this need, where, particularly in the preparedness phase of PPRR, VGI considered as a social practice and not simply a type of data has potential to aid in building community connectedness, risk awareness and increased disaster resilience.

The objective of this research is to assess the usefulness of VGI in fostering community bushfire preparation engagement and increased disaster resilience, and to ascertain the broader impacts of VGI practices on traditional top-down systems such as emergency management. The thesis has several main components. First, community surveys were completed with residents of bushfire-risk communities in Tasmania to examine bushfire preparedness and the current uptake, usage patterns and limitations of VGI technologies like social media. Results indicated high potential for the use of VGI in community engagement in DRR, but also important challenges related to demographics, usage patterns and trust of online information.

Second, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 emergency management professionals to assess their views on how community VGI practices are impacting authoritative emergency management. The study identified key opportunities and challenges of VGI for emergency management, as well as how community-driven bottom-up systems such as VGI can both disrupt and complement authoritative top-down systems.

Third, a novel participatory mapping approach to VGI was employed through community workshops in four Tasmanian communities to assess the user-experience of contributing local information for community bushfire preparation, and the value to individuals of sharing knowledge and mapping collaboratively with other community members for DRR. Workshop observations and questionnaire results provided evidence that participatory mapping of VGI in bushfire management aids the promotion of social inclusion, capacity building and enablement of democratic participation. While the local knowledge exchanged was of value to participants in their bushfire preparedness, the social vi quality of VGI appeared to be the most valuable element of participatory mapping. Concerns regarding VGI that arose in the study included issues of data quality, privacy, trust and the underrepresentation of particular individuals or groups in: the study; community bushfire management; and mapping and geospatial datasets.

This thesis develops a multifaceted understanding of the opportunities and challenges of VGI in community DRR and resilience building, as well as the broader implications of VGI on traditional authoritative systems, social systems, and the disciplines of geography and geographic information science. Significantly, VGI disrupts the traditional top-down structure of emergency management and reflects a culture shift away from organisational power, control and regulation of information. The thesis argues changes to traditional systems catalysed by VGI involve decentralisation of power and increased empowerment of citizens, where value can be increasingly recognised in both {\textquoteleft}expert{\textquoteright} and citizen-produced information, initiatives and practices.

}, url = {https://billyhaworth.com/publications/}, author = {Haworth, B} } @article {bnh-2616, title = {Emergency management perspectives on volunteered geographic information: Opportunities, challenges and change}, journal = {Computers, Environment and Urban Systems}, volume = {57}, year = {2016}, month = {05/2016}, abstract = {

Volunteered geographic information (VGI) refers to the widespread creation and sharing of geographic information by private citizens, often through platforms such as online mapping tools, social media, and smartphone applications. VGI has shifted the ways information is created, shared, used and experienced, with important implications for applications of geospatial data, including emergency management. Detailed interviews with 13 emergency management professionals from eight organisations across five Australian states provided insights into the impacts of VGI on official emergency management. Perceived opportunities presented by VGI included improved communication, acquisition of diverse local information, and increased community engagement in disaster management. Identified challenges included the digital divide, data management, misinformation, and liability concerns. Significantly, VGI disrupts the traditional top-down structure of emergency management and reflects a culture shift away from authoritative control of information. To capitalise on the opportunities of VGI, agencies need to share responsibility and be willing to remain flexible in supporting positive community practises, including VGI. Given the high accountability and inherently responsive nature of decision making in disaster management, it provides a useful lens through which to examine the impacts of VGI on official authoritative systems more broadly. This analysis of the perceptions of emergency management professionals suggests changes to traditional systems that involve decentralisation of power and increased empowerment of citizens, where value is increasingly recognised in both expert and citizen-produced information, initiatives and practises.

}, keywords = {Disaster management, Emergency management, Geospatial data, VGI, Volunteered geographic information}, doi = {10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2016.02.009}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0198971516300175}, author = {Haworth, B} } @conference {bnh-2937, title = {Using participatory mapping to harness local knowledge and increase community connectedness in bushfire preparation}, booktitle = {AFAC16}, year = {2016}, month = {08/2016}, publisher = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, organization = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Brisbane}, abstract = {

The increased ease of individuals to create, share and map geographic information combined with the need for timely, relevant and diverse information has resulted in a new disaster management context. Volunteered geographic information (VGI), or geographic information created by private citizens enabled through technologies like social media and web-based mapping, has changed the ways people create and use information for crisis events. Literature in this field has focused on disaster response while largely ignoring prevention and preparedness. Preparing for disasters reduces the likelihood of negative impacts on life and property, but despite strategies to educate communities, preparation remains low and increased preparation engagement is required. This study assesses the application and value of VGI in bushfire risk reduction. It examines VGI as a social practice and not simply a data source by considering the user experience of contributing VGI and the potential for these social activities to increase community connectedness for building disaster resilience. Participatory mapping workshops were held in four bushfire-risk communities in Tasmania. Workshops included a paper-mapping activity and web-based digital mapping. Survey results from 31 participants confirm the process of mapping and contributing local information for bushfire preparation with other community members can contribute to increased social connectedness, understanding of local bushfire risk, and engagement in risk reduction. The social aspect of VGI was engaging for participants and contributed to improved community connectedness. The social quality appeared even more engaging than the specific information shared, and this should be considered in future disaster risk reduction initiatives. Participants reported collaborative maps as effective for collating and sharing community bushfire information with a preference for digital mapping over paper-based methods. Local knowledge and shared information were seen as valuable, but further work is needed to extrapolate findings from the study sample to the broader population.

}, author = {Haworth, B and J Whittaker and Eleanor Bruce} } @article {bnh-2276, title = {Emerging technologies for risk reduction: assessing the potential use of social media and VGI for increasing community engagement}, journal = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {30}, year = {2015}, month = {10/2015}, abstract = {

Each year Australia is prone to potential negative and devastating impacts of bushfires and other natural hazards, highlighting the importance of community engagement in disaster risk reduction. Volunteered geographic information (VGI) is an emerging technology that allows members of the public to voluntarily contribute geographic information, predominantly through sources such as social media, photo and video sharing platforms, and online map-making software. The potential role of VGI in disaster response has been documented in recent years, but VGI for community preparation has received less attention. This research explores the potential role for VGI to foster community engagement in bushfire preparation and to empower and build disaster resilience for Tasmanians. Through collaboration with the Tasmania Fire Service, a survey of 154 participants across 12 communities at bushfire risk in Tasmania has quantified trends in individual and community preparedness and VGI and social media use. This paper provides an evidence base for both the use of VGI technologies in bushfire preparation initiatives and directions for further research.

}, url = {https://ajem.infoservices.com.au/items/AJEM-30-03-10}, author = {Haworth, B and Eleanor Bruce and Peter Middleton} } @article {bnh-1807, title = {A Review of Volunteered Geographic Information for Disaster Management}, journal = {Geography Compass}, volume = {9}, year = {2015}, month = {05/2015}, abstract = {

The immediacy of locational information requirements and importance of data currency for natural disaster events highlights the value of volunteered geographic information (VGI) in all stages of disaster management, including prevention, preparation, response, and recovery. The practice of private citizens generating online geospatial data presents new opportunities for the creation and dissemination of disaster-related geographic data from a dense network of intelligent observers. VGI technologies enable rapid sharing of diverse geographic information for disaster management at a fraction of the resource costs associated with traditional data collection and dissemination, but they also present new challenges. These include a lack of data quality assurance and issues surrounding data management, liability, security, and the digital divide. There is a growing need for researchers to explore and understand the implications of these data and data practices for disaster management. In this article, we review the current state of knowledge in this emerging field and present recommendations for future research. Significantly, we note further research is warranted in the pre-event phases of disaster management, where VGI may present an opportunity to connect and engage individuals in disaster preparation and strengthen community resilience to potential disaster events. Our investigation of VGI for disaster management provides broader insight into key challenges and impacts of VGI on geospatial data practices and the wider field of geographical science.

}, doi = {DOI: 10.1111/gec3.12213}, author = {Haworth, B and Eleanor Bruce} }