Abstract

GIS in Emergency Management Cultures
Track: Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Authors: Joseph (Dallas) Breen, David Parrish

Technology usage, geographic information systems in particular, has been steadily increasing in the public sector over the past 30 years. During this time, policy makers have shifted their attentions away from the implementation of the technology to understanding the various aspects of organizational cultures in an effort to create a more effective and efficient method of technological response in disaster situations. Geographic information systems are a widely used method of delivering spatial data in a visually appealing and effective manner. Mississippi State University participated in a research effort to identify the various aspects of GIS in disaster situations. The research findings are provided along with future implications and recommendations for understanding organizational cultures; a necessary step for increasing the effectiveness of first response agencies during the response, recovery, and planning phases of emergency operations.