Utilizing Social Media and Crowdsourcing for Crisis Management and Communication: proposing an Integrative Framework

Abstract

Utilizing social media and crowdsourcing (SMCS) in crisis management is crucial for improving communication and citizen engagement. However, practitioners working in crisis management organizations often face challenges when translating the outcomes of scientific research into actionable knowledge. To aid disaster management organizations, a comprehensive set of resources including practical tools, guidelines, and use examples are necessary. This will help response organizations to integrate the different components of SMCS coherently and consistently in their organizations and to promote disaster resilience for different users. An integrative Framework, developed by the authors as part of the EU-funded Horizon 2020 project, LINKS – strengthening links between technologies and society for European disaster resilience, serves such resources. This paper presents how this Framework came into being and describes its main components. It then provides a case study from the Netherlands, focusing on the scenario of industrial, chemical hazards, to illustrate how the Framework was actually used.