Data interoperability for disaster risk reduction in Europe

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss how, despite increasing data availability from a wide range of sources unlocks unprecedented opportunities for disaster risk reduction, data interoperability remains a challenge due to a number of barriers. As a first step to enhancing data interoperability for disaster risk reduction is to identify major barriers, this paper presents a case study on data interoperability in disaster risk reduction in Europe, linking current barriers to the regional initiative of the European Science and Technology Advisory Group. Design/methodology/approach In support of Priority 2 (“Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk”) of the Sendai Framework and SDG17 (“Partnerships for the goals”), this paper presents a case study on barriers to data interoperability in Europe based on a series of reviews, surveys and interviews with National Sendai Focal Points and stakeholders in science and research, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and industry. Findings For a number of European countries, there remains a clear imbalance between long-term disaster risk reduction and short-term preparation and the dominant role of emergency relief, response and recovery, pointing to the potential of investments in ex ante measures with better inclusion and exploitation of data. Originality/value Modern society is facing a digital revolution. As highlighted by the International Council of Science and the Committee on Data for Science and Technology, digital technology offers profound opportunities for science to discover unsuspected patterns and relationships in nature and society, on scales from the molecular to the cosmic, from local health systems to global sustainability. It has created the potential for disciplines of science to synergize into a holistic understanding of the complex challenges currently confronting humanity; the Sustainable Development Goals are a direct reflectance of this. Interdisciplinary is obtained with integration of data across relevant disciplines. However, a barrier to realization and exploitation of this potential arises from the incompatible data standards and nomenclatures used in different disciplines. Although the problem has been addressed by several initiatives, the following challenge still remains: to make online data integration a routine.

Methodological bases for assessing socio-demographic and migration consequences of man-made disasters

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Baseline geographic information on wildfire-watershed risk in Canada: needs, gaps, and opportunities

“…In line with numerous calls for extended collaboration in the risk management sector, we argue that developing WWR research through the EMS can help identify the variety of actors involved in forest conservation and water management: drinking water providers, First Nations, watershed councils, forestry companies, municipalities and provincial agencies responsible for water resource management, and federal agencies involved in forest research and water science, among others (Robinne et al 2021). Such collaboration, with data creation and openness as a core objective, is paramount to the production of risk information (van Asselt and Renn 2011;Dunn, Bakker, and Harris 2014;Bakker and Cook 2011;Tymstra et al 2019;Migliorini et al 2019;Fisher and Kingma 2001). Linders (2013) explains how information weaknesses and access difficulties to open data complicate the proper allocation of funding, generates redundancy and thus money wasting, and limits accountability.…”

Improving Disaster Data Systems to Inform Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Building in Australia: A Comparison of Databases

“…21 These recommendations are consistent with findings of an investigation into disaster data interoperability in Europe by Migliorini, et al who noted a lack of long-term DRR activities related to data capture and usage. 23 The EM-DAT is one of very few global disaster event databases. The EM-DAT, along with other international databases, relies predominantly on media sources, international organizations (ie, UN, Red Cross), and/or non-governmental organization reports, resulting in a lack of readily available access to event data that national services possess.…”