Hamza, M and Månsson, P (2020) The human dimension of early warning: a viewpoint. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 11(2), pp. 263-274. ISSN 1759-5916
Abstract
Purpose: The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami prompted global efforts to develop end-to-end multi-hazard warning systems. Taking this event as a starting point, and drawing on experiences from the following advancement of the Indonesian tsunami early warning system, this paper aims to highlight the importance of paying attention to human factors and the perceptions and behaviors of end recipients when trying to design efficient early warning systems. Design/methodology/approach: The study is a viewpoint where theoretical frameworks for the design of efficient early warning systems are used as backdrop to an extensive review and analysis of secondary data, including scientific papers and newspaper articles. Findings: The paper presents what an end-to-end warning system means, explores process problems related to perception and communication and concludes with views and recommendations toward more inclusive early warnings. Originality/value: Research and practice related to early warning systems have traditionally had a strong focus on technological elements whilst the target groups of early warnings (i.e. communities) have received far less attention and resources. This paper focuses on the human dimension of warning systems and uses a real case to exemplify how efficient warning systems not only require a sound scientific and technological basis, but also depend on the awareness, trust and will of the people they aim to protect.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | early warning; risk analysis; risk perception; risk reduction; tsunami; vulnerability |
| Index terms: | risk reduction, risk perception, drawing, early warning, scientific paper, methodology, vulnerability, risk analysis, human factor, secondary data, newspaper, tsunami, dimension |
| Subjects: | research dissemination and communication, data collection methods, health monitoring assessment and metrics, technical documentation, financial risk, research methods, environmental hazards, sociology, occupational health and safety management |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Cost Management, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Information Management, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here