A Framework for the Integration of Volunteered Geographic Information into Humanitarian Logistics

Abstract Humanitarian logistics is a major factor for the success of humanitarian operations, making use of a broad range of infrastructure and resources in highly unstable and volatile environments. Due to the need for accuracy and timeliness, the information must be updated and related to the real variables of the affected area. In this context, volunteered geographic information (VGI), providedby local members of non-governmental organizations or individual citizens,emerges as an important information source. This paper presents a conceptual framework to link supply chain management (SCM) processes of humanitarian organizations with VGI, in order to assist the identification of information about infrastructure and resources that are needed by humanitarian SCM processes, and to supply better sources of information fulfilling the needs. The framework's central component is the Humanitarian Logistics Infrastructure and Resource Model, which can be used to encapsulate information and facilitate the cross-linking of SCM and VGI systems

Usability of disaster apps : understanding the perspectives of the public as end-users : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Emergency Management at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Listed in 2020 Dean's List of Exceptional ThesesMultiple smartphone applications (apps) exist that can enhance the public’s resilience to disasters. Despite the capabilities of these apps, they can only be effective if users find them usable. Availability does not automatically translate to usability nor does it guarantee continued usage by the target users. A disaster app will be of little or no value if a user abandons it after the initial download. It is, therefore, essential to understand the users’ perspectives on the usability of disaster apps. In the context of disaster apps, usability entails providing the elements that effectively facilitate users in retrieving critical information, and thus enabling them to make decisions during crises. Establishing good usability for effective systems relies upon focussing on the user whereby technological solutions match the user’s needs and expectations. However, most studies on the usability of disaster context technologies have been conducted with emergency responders, and only a few have investigated the publics’ perspectives as end-users. This doctoral project, written within a ‘PhD-thesis-with-publication’ format, addresses this gap by investigating the usability of disaster apps through the perspectives of the public end-users. The investigation takes an explicitly perceived usability standpoint where the experiences of the end-users are prioritised. Data analysis involved user-centric information to understand the public’s context and the mechanisms of disaster app usability. A mixed methods approach incorporates the qualitative analysis of app store data of 1,405 user reviews from 58 existing disaster apps, the quantitative analysis of 271 survey responses from actual disaster app users, and the qualitative analysis of usability inquiries with 18 members of the public. Insights gathered from this doctoral project highlight that end-users do not anticipate using disaster apps frequently, which poses particular challenges. Furthermore, despite the anticipated low frequency of use, because of the life-safety association of disasters apps, end-users have an expectation that the apps can operate with adequate usability when needed. This doctoral project provides focussed outcomes that consider such user perspectives. First, an app store analysis investigating user reviews identified new usability concerns particular to disaster apps. It highlighted users’ opinion on phone resource usage and relevance of content, among others. More importantly, it defined a new usability factor, app dependability, relating to the life-safety context of disaster apps. App dependability is the degree to which users’ perceive that an app can operate dependably during critical scenarios. Second, the quantitative results from this research have contributed towards producing a usability-continuance model, highlighting the usability factors that affect end-users’ intention to keep or uninstall a disaster app. The key influences for users’ intention to keep disaster apps are: (1) users’ perceptions as to whether the app delivers its function (app utility), (2) whether it does so dependably (app dependability), and (3) whether it presents information that can be easily understood (user-interface output). Subsequently, too much focus on (4) user-interface graphics and (5) user-interface input can encourage users to uninstall apps. Third, the results from the qualitative analysis of the inquiry data provide a basis for developing guidelines for disaster app usability. In the expectation of low level of engagement with disaster app users, the guidelines list recommendations addressing information salience, cognitive load, and trust. This doctoral project provides several contributions to the body of knowledge for usability and disaster apps. It reiterates the importance of investigating the usability of technological products for disasters and showcases the value of user-centric data in understanding usability. It has investigated usability with particular attention to the end-users’ perspectives on the context of disaster apps and, thus, produces a theoretical usability-continuance model to advance disaster app usability research and usability guidelines to encourage responsible design in practice

Understanding the voluntary moderation practices in live streaming communities

Harmful content, such as hate speech, online abuses, harassment, and cyberbullying, proliferates across various online communities. Live streaming as a novel online community provides ways for thousands of users (viewers) to entertain and engage with a broadcaster (streamer) in real-time in the chatroom. While the streamer has the camera on and the screen shared, tens of thousands of viewers are watching and messaging in real-time, resulting in concerns about harassment and cyberbullying. To regulate harmful content—toxic messages in the chatroom, streamers rely on a combination of automated tools and volunteer human moderators (mods) to block users or remove content, which is termed content moderation. Live streaming as a mixed media contains some unique attributes such as synchronicity and authenticity, making real-time content moderation challenging. Given the high interactivity and ephemerality of live text-based communication in the chatroom, mods have to make decisions with time constraints and little instruction, suffering cognitive overload and emotional toll. While much previous work has focused on moderation in asynchronous online communities and social media platforms, very little is known about human moderation in synchronous online communities with live interaction among users in a timely manner. It is necessary to understand mods’ moderation practices in live streaming communities, considering their roles to support community growth. This dissertation centers on volunteer mods in live streaming communities to explore their moderation practices and relationships with streamers and viewers. Through quantitative and qualitative methods, this dissertation mainly focuses on three aspects: the strategies and tools used by moderators, the mental model and decision-making process applied toward violators, and the conflict management present in the moderation team. This dissertation uses various socio-technical theories to explain mods’ individual and collaborative practices and suggests several design interventions to facilitate the moderation process in live streaming communities

Ein Framework für den teilautomatisierten Verifikations- und Integrationsprozess für Daten aus sozialen Netzwerken im Umfeld der zivilen Sicherheit

In den Projekten „SpeedUp“ und „unired“ wurde untersucht, wie durch mobile IT-Systeme Behörden und Organisationen mit Sicherheitsaufgaben (BOS) bei der Abarbeitung eines Massenanfalls von Verletzten unterstützt werden können. Da auch der Nutzen von Social Media (SM) in solchen Situationen wissenschaftlich diskutiert wird, entstand der Wunsch nach einer Erarbeitung des aktuellen Stands von Forschung und Praxis. Eine entsprechende Recherche zeigt, dass bereits zwar breit geforscht wird, jedoch eine Nutzung in der Praxis in Deutschland kaum erfolgt. Einer der Hauptgründe ist das geringe Vertrauen in nutzergenerierte Informationen. Bevor die Entscheidungsfindung bei BOS durch SM beeinflusst werden kann, muss es möglich sein, den Wahrheitsgehalt von Daten strukturiert bewerten zu können. Diese Dissertation widmet sich der Entwicklung einer IT-Lösung, die Mitarbeiter von BOS dabei unterstützt, Informationen aus SM strukturiert zu bewerten. Die zu untersuchenden Thesen lauten: 1. Der Verifikationsprozess für Inhalte aus SM im Umfeld der zivilen Sicherheit lässt sich trotz seiner hohen Dynamik in ein formales Prozessmodell überführen. 2. Der formalisierte Prozess der Verifikation im Umfeld der zivilen Sicherheit lässt sich durch eine IT-Lösung geeignet unterstützen. 3. Eine IT-Lösung für den Verifikationsprozess kann so konzipiert werden, dass trotz der hohen Dynamik von SM-Plattformen und der starken Heterogenität dieser ein allgemeingültiges Framework realisierbar ist, das zudem die verfügbaren Daten in einen integrierten Datenbestand überführt. Zur Bearbeitung der Thesen wurde zunächst ein logisches Prozessmodell für den Verifikationsvorgang entwickelt. Aufbauend auf diesem erfolgte der Entwurf einer integrativen Datenhaltung. Prozess- und Datenmodell sind Grundlage des „Framework bridged“, das wesentliche Funktionalitäten für eine IT-Unterstützung des Verifikationsvorgangs bereitstellt und ein allgemeingültiges Framework mit integrativer Datenhaltung realisiert

Twitter Integration and Content Moderation in GDACSmobile

Recent years have shown that mobile devices and Twitter can play a significant role in providing real-time data from disaster-affected areas to disaster managers. Against this background we present a workflow for Twitter integration into a disaster management information system, and a concept for content moderation that can increase the quality of disseminated information.JRC.G.2-Global security and crisis managemen

Twitter Integration and Content Moderation in GDACSmobile

Recent years have shown that mobile devices and Twitter can play a significant role in providing real -time data from disaster-affected areas to disaster managers. Against this background we present a workflow for Twitter integration into a disaster management information system, and a concept for content moderation that can increase the quality of disseminated information.JRC.G.2-Global security and crisis managemen