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<br />ROO-23 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Louise K. Comfort <br />University of Pittsburgh <br />Pittsburgh, PA 15260 <br />E-mail: Ikc@pitt.edu <br /> <br />INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND EFFICIENCY IN DISASTER RESPONSE <br />The Marmara,Turkey Earthquake, 17 August 1999 <br /> <br />This report summarizes the findings from a quick response study of the uses of information <br />technology in the Marmara, Turkey Earthquake of 17 August 1999. The study explored the degree to which <br />different types of information technology affect the degree of efficiency attained in interorganizational <br />response to disaster, It examined the ways in which the technical characteristics of the information <br />infrastructure facilitate the communication and learning processes among the many organizations engaged <br />in disaster response, and the extent to which these processes contribute to innovative performance in a <br />rapidly evolving disaster response system, The study had four research objectives. They are: <br /> <br />1. To identify the information infrastructure used to support interorganizational coordination and <br />performance in disaster response, <br />2. To identify, if possible, the frequency, direction, and duration of communications among the set of <br />organizations participating in disaster response. <br />3. To assess, if possible, the extent to which technical and organizational characteristics combine to <br />produce a shared knowledge base that supports collective action in disaster operations <br />4. To identify the points of disruption and/or delay in information processes for the disaster response <br />system and the consequences for interorganizational performance <br /> <br />. The primary data for this study was collected in a set of semi-structured interviews with 21 managers of <br />public, private and nonprofit organizations who were involved in the conduct, management, or evaluation <br />of disaster response operations following the earthquake. The interviews were conducted in the cities of <br />Istanbul, Kocaeli, Golcuk, Yahlova, Adapazari and Ankara. Public managers were from town, city, province <br />and national jurisdictions. <br /> <br />These interviews were conducted with the assistance of a program analyst from the Office of Disaster <br />Affairs, Government of Turkey, and a Turkish-speaking graduate student from the University of Pittsburgh. <br />Data presented are based primarily on findings from the set of semi-structured field interviews. The report <br />summarizes the findings from this survey in reference to eight types of information technology: I) amateur <br />and short wave radio; 2) satellite telephones; 3) cell telephones; 4) National Emergency Information System <br />Damage Estimation Model; 5) aerial photography; 6) Geographic Information Systems; 7) remote <br />sensing/satellite imagery; and 8) Turknet. <br /> <br />The number and type of information technologies used in disaster response operations varied by time phase <br />in disaster operations, the immediate tasks confronting the practicing managers, and the level of technical <br />equipment and skills available for use during disaster operations, The chaotic first days of disaster <br />operations generated conditions that placed greater demands on recovery. But in some instances, quick <br />actions taken through informed decision hastened the recovery of the city, e.g. the rapid location and <br />establishment of the tent cities in Yahlova, accompanied by a planning process for rebuilding. This study <br />was supported by a Quick Response Grant administered by the Natural Hazards Research and Applications <br />Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, the Research Center for Urban Safety and Security (RCUSS), Kobe <br />University, Nada, Kobe, Japan, and the Office of Disaster Affairs, Government of Turkey, <br /> <br />. <br />