Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Disaster Management

This book was primarily written for disaster management students interested in learning about the many facets of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for disaster management. The unfortunate reality is that disasters will continue to proliferate in size, scope, and intensity. Future disasters will affect more people in diverse geographical contexts. Given that disasters are fundamentally spatial in nature, GIS plays a critical role in disaster management. However, there is an educational challenge and workforce need for well-educated practitioners and specialists who have a comprehensive, interdisciplinary understanding of the conceptual, technological, analytical, and representational capacities of GIS, as well as the policy and practice of disaster management. My hope is that this book can meet these challenges, even if partially. Additionally, I have made a particular point to gather a wide range of practical advice on developing a career in GIS for disaster management from experts ranging from local county government all the way to the United Nations. I strongly advise you to read their advice closely and keep it in mind as you develop and advance your own career if you are a student or use it to guide your students if you are a teacher. If you are GIS student interested in learning about the disaster management domain, the many examples provided in the book will ideally help you learn how GIS is applied to disaster management as well as more about GIS itself.