Equity-focused data and user-centered design in earthquake emergency management decision-making

Abstract

Following an earthquake, near-real-time impact products provide valuable information to the public and decision-makers in emergency management, humanitarian, and finance sectors, among others. However, earthquake-impact products are often designed without formal user input or a focus on socially vulnerable populations, resulting in products that may not be equipped to support equity-focused disaster management decisions. To contribute to filling this gap, this thesis presents a user needs assessment of the U.S. Geological Survey’s PAGER (Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response) system, currently consisting of the onePAGER product. An iterative user-centered design process is being used to develop a new actionable, equity-focused twoPAGER product and to better understand how emergency managers could use equity-focused impact data. Initial focus groups with onePAGER users from various sectors revealed that users are interested in impact disaggregated by various social vulnerability indicators, as well as more human-centered consequence metrics. Discussion results also highlighted participant enthusiasm for both an equity-focused product and participation in user engagement. Focus group feedback then informed the metrics included in the new twoPAGER mockup. Next, a usability testing workshop was used to evaluate the mockup with domestic emergency managers through earthquake scenario exercises. Qualitative analysis revealed that equity-focused impact metrics have the potential to influence more equity-focused emergency management decision-making, incorporating equity-focused decision-making into scenario exercises can influence equity-focused emergency management decision-making, and user-centered design can be beneficial in hazard impact product development. Additionally, workshop participants identified several actionable equity-focused impact metrics, showing particular interest in exposure disaggregated by Social Vulnerability Index, disability, and age along with population displacement. This thesis shows that risk modelers should incorporate equity into earthquake impact products more, emergency management earthquake scenario exercises should include equity-focused decision-making into discussions, and user-centered design should be used more in hazard impact product development.