Search results

Using the forensic investigation (FORIN) approach, the purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that exacerbated the loss of human life in one of the most devastated local municipalities on the coast by 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (GEJET) disaster.

This paper begins by reviewing the extent of damage to the local municipalities along the Sanriku ria coast, which has a long history of tsunami disasters. Second, the paper compares previous major tsunami events by using a human vulnerability index, and applies this index to detect the city of Rikuzentakata. Third, the paper identifies the root causes of the GEJET disaster in the city. Interview records with disaster victims were used to elucidate the main factors that exacerbated the number of deaths.

The study indicates that the FORIN approach can be effectively applied to identify the target city for this case study and to point to those factors the most exacerbated human sufferings, and also provides many lessons based on research findings and methodologies to support building resilient societies in the future.

This paper indicates FORIN approach as an effective research template by investigating the GEJET disaster.

Wireless sensor networks are expected to be an integral part of any pervasive computing environment. This implies an ever‐increasing need for efficient energy and resource management of both the sensor nodes, as well as the overall sensor network, in order to meet the expected quality of data and service requirements. There have been numerous studies that have looked at the routing of data in sensor networks with the sole intention of reducing communication power consumption. However, there has been comparatively little prior art in the area of multi‐criteria based routing that exploit both the semantics of queries and the state of sensor nodes to improve network service longevity. In this paper, we look at routing in sensor networks from this perspective and propose an adaptive multi‐criteria routing protocol. Our algorithm offers automated reconfiguration of the routing tree as demanded by variations in the network state to meet application service requirements. Our experimental results show that our approach consistently outperforms, in terms of Network Lifetime and Coverage, the leading semantic‐based routing algorithm which reconfigures the routing tree at fixed periods.

It is significant to assess the societal trust toward the new advancements in multi-hazard early warnings (MHEW) with the focus on disaster risk reduction (DRR). Based on this, the purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of societal trust behavior along with the parameters such as mode of communication and institutions of issuing early warnings (EWs).

A field questionnaire survey was conducted to identify the extent of societal trust. This was conducted in ten selected Grama Niladari divisions in Sri Lanka based on a developed hazard matrix. The fuzzy logic approach was applied to examine the trust level of collected 323 responses obtained through this. The analysis was done based on the responses on mobile-based platforms in EW and the credibility level of the warnings received through different institutions.

The analyzed survey responses indicated that society has a higher extent of trust toward the EWs disseminated through mobile-based platforms. Moreover, these represent a strong positive correlation among the societal trust level and the level of importance of EW dissemination through mobile-based platforms. Further, in terms of trusted stakeholders in issuing EW alerts, Disaster Management Center, Sri Lanka Police and Media ranked the highest in the Sri Lankan context. Overall, findings were visually mapped through the causal loop diagrams (CLDs).

In enhancing the effectiveness of the existing MHEW mechanism, the policy implications could be done, based on the results obtained from this research study. These could be altered with the implementation of DRR strategies with a community focus.

The fuzzy logic approach was used in the determination of the societal decision-making on the extent of trust level. Fuzzy triangulation is mainly applied in the interpretation of the results. Further, overall parameters that determine the community trust on MHEW are represented through CLDs through system dynamics application.

The paper explores why local disaster scholars often fail to put the needs of local people at the centre of their research. Specifically, it explores two questions: (1) why local concerns are often not reflected in the research agenda? And (2) why we are falling behind in generating locally applicable disaster knowledge? The paper engages with the experiences of local disaster researchers to answer the research questions.

A qualitative approach was undertaken to conduct the study. In total, 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with practitioners and academics working in the domain of disaster studies in different regions of India. Criterion sampling was employed to recruit the participants. An interview guide with open ended questions was used to conduct the interviews. The data were thematically analysed utilizing qualitative data analysis software to arrive at the findings.

The participants identified three potential reasons behind the lack of locally relevant disaster research. First, the existing concepts and terminologies which guide disaster research are often inadequate to represent the local reality. Second, “foreign” funders and policymakers often influence the agenda and emphasis of the research which creates barriers in developing research agenda relevant to the local needs. The time-bound project format of research is often problematic. It resembles looking at the community through a peephole which hardly gives the whole picture. Third, resource constraints also create substantial hindrances in conducting locally relevant research.

The sample only included participants who believed that disaster research is often not relevant locally in India. Participants having different standpoints on the issue were not included which remains as a limitation of the study.

The research highlights the challenges that local researchers face while conducting locally relevant research and how they can be overcome. The author expects that the findings of the research will help in challenging and transforming established practices in disaster studies and bridging the gap between disaster research and vulnerable people.

This paper is valuable because it documents the perspectives of local researchers on the barriers that need to be overcome to produce locally relevant disaster research.

The study aims to expand on the concept of an early warning system (EWS) by introducing weak-signal detection, human-in-the-loop (HIL) verification and response tuning as integral parts of an EWS's design.

The authors bibliographically highlight the evolution of EWS over the last 30+ years, discuss instances of EWSs in various types of organizations and industries and highlight limitations of current systems.

Proposed system to be used in the transforming of weak signals to early warnings and associated weak/strong responses.

The authors contribute to existing literature by presenting (1) novel approaches to dealing with some of the well-known issues associated with contemporary EWS and (2) an event-agnostic heuristic for dealing with weak signals.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-11-2020-0513.

The question of “why we are in disaster studies” can be essential to reflect on discourses and practices – as students, researchers and professors – in constituting an oppressive disaster science and finding ways to liberate from it.

This paper is based on autobiographical research and institutional ethnography to observe and analyze the discourses and practices about career trajectories as students, researchers and professors in disaster studies.

The paper provides some categories, concepts, theoretical approaches and lived experiences helpful for discussing ways of liberating disaster studies, such as public sociology of disaster.

Few papers have focused on professional trajectories in disaster studies, bringing insights from public sociology and questioning oppressive disaster science.

This paper aims to develop a framework to examine corporate water reporting (CWR) that considers the context in emerging economies and determine if and how companies are addressing the distinct water-related challenges and opportunities that they face in any given location.

This study combines a concise profile of the context of water resources management in Peru with a review of CWR guidelines and thematic content analysis of water information in sustainability reports for 34 companies operating in Peru. These data are then used to inform the development of a CWR typology via the use of a cluster analysis complemented by within-case and cross-case qualitative analysis of companies.

This study highlights the incomplete nature of most CWR practices of companies in Peru, with an emphasis on internal firm operations. Where companies do provide information on water risk and stakeholder engagement, there is insufficient detail to provide a clear picture of contributions to sustainable water management at the local level. The main drivers for CWR in Peru appear to be pressure from international markets, regulation and other normative issues.

The findings indicate that companies need to place more emphasis on the local context when reporting on water risks and activities, which could be achieved through the use of CWR frameworks that integrate both international and sectoral CWR guidelines, along with indicators related to good water governance, water, sanitation and hygiene service delivery and the sustainable development goals, as together they provide a more comprehensive reflection of the broader challenges and opportunities related to corporate water management.

This paper presents the first framework specifically developed to evaluate CWR practices with consideration of the context of an emerging economy.

This paper examines the corporate income tax compliance costs and their determinants by analyzing survey and financial statements data from firms operating in Greece. We find that corporate tax compliance costs are of considerable size and vary with several firm-specific characteristics, including the firm’s size, its age, the sector in which it operates, its location, and its legal form. The paper intends to raise awareness regarding the impact of tax compliance costs, especially for countries, such as Greece, that were significantly affected by the economic and financial crisis.