GEOG 858
Spatial Data Science for Emergency Management

Overview & Checklist

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Skyline of Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan: What would happen if another major earthquake struck Japan and caused a blackout that lasted over a month in a city like Tokyo? How could geospatial applications and technology be used to examine vulnerabilities like that for major cities?
Credit: Anthony Robinson

This week, we focus on the first of the four phases of emergency management - vulnerability assessment and hazard mitigation. We will read about risk mapping and vulnerability assessment using spatial data and GIS. Building on the background knowledge we've gained from previous lessons, each of you will conduct an analysis of Heatwave vulnerability, impacts, and mitigation strategies using social and environmental data. You will also continue making progress on the term project assignment.

four stages of emergency management with Mitigation highlighted. Other stages = Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
Credit: © Penn State University is licensed under 
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 

Mitigation

The improvement of the built and social environment in order to reduce, withstand, or prevent disaster impacts.

  • Hazard Analysis
  • Vulnerability Assessment
  • Scenario Development
  • Community Engagement and Education
  • Planning and Infrastructure Work

What You Will Learn

By the successful completion of Lesson 3, you should be able to:

  • describe the concepts associated with risk mapping and vulnerability assessment,

  • conduct your own vulnerability assessment using social and environmental spatial data and summarize your findings in a short essay,

  • conduct background research for your final project,

  • and discuss the technology trend of volunteered geographic information (VGI).

What You Will Do

Lesson 3 is one week in length. To finish this lesson, you must complete the activities listed below. 

Lesson 3 Checklist
To Read
  • Lesson content on geospatial approaches to vulnerability assessment and hazard mitigation 
  • From GIS for Disaster Management - Read: Chapter 8 "Geographic Information Systems and Disaster Mitigation (pp. 233-250)
  • From the Web - Read - Social Vulnerability to Natural Hazards in Brazil
To Do

  • Vulnerability Assessment Exercise

  • Emerging Theme Discussion  

  • Term Project: Begin Research 

Please refer to the Calendar in Canvas for specific timeframes and due dates.

Questions? 

If you have questions about the content or lesson activities, please post them to the General Questions and Discussion forum in Canvas. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses if you, too, are able to help a classmate. If your question is of a personal nature, please email me directly through Canvas.