MSc International Disaster Management / Course details

Geographic information systems (GIS) are computer systems for capturing, storing, analysing, displaying and sharing data related to positions on Earth's surface. GIS and the analysis of spatial data has application to many fields, such as environmental management, urban planning, business, government, as well as disaster management. Today more than ever we need innovative approaches to understanding and managing hazards, risk, and vulnerabilities to reduce negative disaster impacts.

In this course, students will be exposed to a range of transferrable GIS techniques and analysis tools and will learn how to apply these to various disaster management tasks, such as mapping vulnerability using census data, or modelling risk using meteorological and other physical geography data. Students will learn important cartographic principles and develop their own GIS maps. In addition to the practical components, the course will develop theoretical understandings and critically consider the appropriateness and implications of GIS approaches and map making.

The course aims to:

• Develop an understanding of spatial data and its analysis
• Develop spatial problem-solving abilities and practical skills in GIS analysis and cartography (focusing on QGIS and ArcGIS Online)
• Explore a broad set of applications of spatial data and GIS for crisis management and disaster risk reduction
• Critically reflect on the power, usefulness, and limitations of GIS and spatial data broadly and in disaster management

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Different types of spatial data and how they are developed and analysed
• Current and potential applications of spatial data and GIS in disaster management
• Spatial analysis as a mechanism for assessing hazard risk and vulnerability
• The implications of GIS, including the power of maps to persuade, digital divides and unequal access to spatial information, contemporary trends and changing practices

• Identify and evaluate patterns and trends in spatial data
• Investigate dynamic phenomena through interrogation of spatial and temporal data
• Consider the influence of geography on different approaches to analysing and managing disasters
• Critically analyse the role of GIS and mapping in disaster management, and the underpinning theories

• Conduct a range of analyses on both vector and raster datasets
• Combine multiple data to address real world problems
• Cartography skills and the design and production of GIS maps
• Research skills, including planning, prioritisation of tasks, identification and location of sources, critical evaluation of findings
• Communicating analysis results in the form of map analysis
• Participation in online and in-class discussions

• Spatial data analysis and interpretation skills
• Experience in preparing GIS maps of the same kind that may be used in academia, policy development, or the professional sector.
• Critical thinking, research and project management skills
• Skills to help them interpret current and future disaster risk and vulnerability
• Ethical awareness

Resit Assessment

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Canevari-Luzardo, L., Bastide, J.,  Choutet, I., and Liverman, D. (2017) Using partial participatory GIS in vulnerability and disaster risk reduction in Grenada, Climate and Development, 9:2, 95-109, DOI: 10.1080/17565529.2015.1067593

Cutter, S. (2003). GIScience, disasters, and emergency management. Transactions in GIS, 7(4): 439–445.

Dempsey, C. (2018) GIS Lounge at https://www.gislounge.com/free-gis-books/ (Accessed September 2022)

Esri (2022) Disaster Response Programme Webpage.  Accessed September 2022 at https://www.esri.com/en-us/disaster-response/overview.

Esri (2022) Emergency and disaster management webpage.  Accessed September 2022 at https://www.esri.com/en-us/industries/emergency-management/overview

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Ntajal, J., Lamptey, B. L., Mahamadou, I. B., & Nyarko, B. K. (2017). Flood disaster risk mapping in the lower Mono river basin in Togo, West Africa. International journal of disaster risk reduction, 23: 93-103.

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