Understanding the decision-making process in disaster risk monitoring and early-warning: A case study within a control room in Brazil

E.A. Horita, F., Porto de Albuquerque, J. and Marchezini, V. (2018) Understanding the decision-making process in disaster risk monitoring and early-warning: A case study within a control room in Brazil. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 28, pp. 22-31. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.01.034)

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Abstract

The tasks of disaster risk monitoring and early warning are an important means of improving the efficiency of disaster response and preparedness. However, although the current works in this area have sought to provide a more accurate and better technological infrastructure of systems to support these tasks, they have failed to examine key features that may affect the decision-making. In light of this, this paper aims to provide an understanding of the decision-making process in control rooms for disaster risk monitoring and early warning. This understanding is underpinned by a conceptual framework, which has been developed in this work and describes factors that influence the decision-making. For doing so, data were collected through a series of semi-structured interviews and participatory observations and later evaluated with members of the control room of the Brazilian Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (Cemaden). The study findings provided a solid basis for designing the conceptual framework of the essential factors required by the decision-makers. These factors are separated into two groups: 1) the “dimensions” of decision-making (i.e., the type of hazard, the phase of the disaster risk, the location, and area of expertise of the operators) and the “pillars” of decision-making (i.e., the tasks, their required information, useful data sources, and the decision rule). Finally, the contributions achieved in this study may help operators to understand and propose proactive measures that could improve their decision-making, overcome uncertainties, standardize the team's decision-making, and put less pressure on operators.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This research was partially funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through the Global Challenges Research Fund and Warwick Brazil Partnership Fund/Santander Universities. The authors are thankful to the participants of the interviews and focus group sessions for this study. FEAH and JPA would like to express thanks for the financial support provided by CAPES (Grant No. 88887.091744/2014-01). FEAH is also grateful for the financial support from CNPq (Grant no. 300715/2017-0) and FAPESP (Grant no. 2017/09889-1). JPA acknowledges financial support from Heidelberg University (Excellence Initiative II/Action 7).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Porto de Albuquerque, Professor Joao
Authors: E.A. Horita, F., Porto de Albuquerque, J., and Marchezini, V.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
Journal Name:International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:2212-4209
ISSN (Online):2212-4209
Published Online:31 January 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 The Authors
First Published:First published in International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 28:22-31
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons Licence

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