Improving the social performance of flash flood early warnings using mobile services
International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment
ISSN: 1759-5908
Article publication date: 9 February 2015
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to provide recommendations for improving the social performance of warnings using mobile services in flash flood prone communities. A warning cannot be considered effective until it is received, understood and responded to by those at risk. This is defined as the social performance of warning communication techniques. Mobile services offer opportunities for improving this, particularly in Bangladesh, but have been underutilised. In this research, characteristics of the warning, mobile services and community are found to influence the social performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A framework on the factors affecting the social performance was developed and applied using data collected through interviews at the national and regional level along with focus-group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews at the local level in the Sunamganj District, Bangladesh.
Findings
The study demonstrated that mobile services are the preferred means of warning communication. Communities strongly preferred voice short messaging service (SMS) and interactive voice response (IVR) because of easier accessibility and understanding of the message. Text-based services [SMS and cell broadcasting service (CBS)] were still found to be acceptable. These should be simple, use symbols and refer to additional sources of information. Further recommendations include mixing push (e.g. SMS and CBS) and pull-based (e.g. IVR) mobile services, utilising local social networks, decentralising the dissemination process and raising awareness.
Research limitations/implications
A limited sample of interviews and FGDs were used.
Practical implications
Concrete recommendations are made for overcoming obstacles related to the effective use of mobiles services.
Social implications
The suggestions made can contribute to improving the social performance of flood early warning communication.
Originality/value
The conceptualisation of mobile services’ contribution to social performance of flood warning and field-level application.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was financially supported by Deltares and the European Commission, as part of the Erasmus Mundus MSc Master Programme in Flood Risk Management led by UNESCO-IHE, all of whom are hereby acknowledged. Further thanks go to CEGIS, RIMES and the Centre for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) for supporting the research in Bangladesh, particularly the fieldwork.
Citation
Cumiskey, L., Werner, M., Meijer, K., Fakhruddin, S.H.M. and Hassan, A. (2015), "Improving the social performance of flash flood early warnings using mobile services", International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 57-72. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-08-2014-0062
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited