Big Data in Natural Disaster Management: A Review

Manzhu Yu,Chaowei Yang,Yun Li

doi:10.3390/geosciences8050165

Abstract

Undoubtedly, the age of big data has opened new options for natural disaster management, primarily because of the varied possibilities it provides in visualizing, analyzing, and predicting natural disasters. From this perspective, big data has radically changed the ways through which human societies adopt natural disaster management strategies to reduce human suffering and economic losses. In a world that is now heavily dependent on information technology, the prime objective of computer experts and policy makers is to make the best of big data by sourcing information from varied formats and storing it in ways that it can be effectively used during different stages of natural disaster management. This paper aimed at making a systematic review of the literature in analyzing the role of big data in natural disaster management and highlighting the present status of the technology in providing meaningful and effective solutions in natural disaster management. The paper has presented the findings of several researchers on varied scientific and technological perspectives that have a bearing on the efficacy of big data in facilitating natural disaster management. In this context, this paper reviews the major big data sources, the associated achievements in different disaster management phases, and emerging technological topics associated with leveraging this new ecosystem of Big Data to monitor and detect natural hazards, mitigate their effects, assist in relief efforts, and contribute to the recovery and reconstruction processes.

Highlights

Natural disasters can be defined as a combination of natural hazards and vulnerabilities that endanger vulnerable communities that are incapable of withstanding the adversities arising from them [1]
In analyzing the recent achievements associated with leveraging Big Data to disaster management, this paper has presented the findings of several researchers on varied scientific and technological perspectives that have a bearing on the efficacy of big data in facilitating disaster management
It has become apparent that in the present age of information technology, a major objective of scientists is to analyze the varied aspects of big data and find ways of making the best of the available technologies in storing the available information in well-integrated structures and using it for the welfare of human societies, in the context of using bid data to effectively deal with natural disasters

Summary

Introduction

Natural disasters can be defined as a combination of natural hazards and vulnerabilities that endanger vulnerable communities that are incapable of withstanding the adversities arising from them [1]. Human beings invariably face threats of natural as well as human-made disasters, which often lead to massive damages, human suffering, and negative economic impacts. The main characteristics of natural disasters are unpredictability, availability of limited resources in impacted areas, and dynamic changes in the environment [2]. Unpredictability implies that severe impacts on people and property during natural disasters cannot be predicted with acceptable accuracy [3]. Dynamic changes in the environment result because it is difficult to make predictions about the movement of people and the damages that may occur because of the natural disaster. It is difficult to predict such changes based on data that pertains to normal periods [4]. The evolving trends have opened massive technological resources for reducing disaster risks [5]

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Conclusion