An assessment of potential improvements in social capital, risk awareness, and preparedness from digital technologies

This study makes a contribution to the literature on disaster risk management by evaluating digital technologies for improving social capital, risk awareness, and disaster preparedness. The authors propose here an evaluation of four areas: mobile positioning data, social media crowdsourcing, drones, and satellite imaging, with an additional focus on acceptability and feasibility. The assessment is carried out through a survey disseminated among stakeholders. 

The study finds that the different assumptions on which these areas rely deliver diverging results. Therefore, it is recommended that future research adopts a sensitivity analysis that considers multiple and alternatives methods to evaluate survey results. It is also recommended that future research engages in comparative case studies and provide a contextual assessment of how digital technologies can improve social capital, risk awareness, and disaster preparedness.