iMSEP: a GIT-based digital solution for disaster management

Digital solutions based on geospatial information technology are essential components to support reliable decision-making for disaster management. However, these solutions are often expensive and hence nonaffordable for low-income countries. Examples are costs associated with providing geographic information system (GIS) software for spatial data analysis and field operations, spatial data production, creating geoportals, and establishing early warning systems including adequate expensive sensor networks. This chapter presents an integrated internet-based information management system for environmental protection and disaster risk management (iMSEP) as a cost-effective digital solution satisfying a number of identified needs. iMSEP includes five main modules: Web GIS for spatial data management, analysis, and visualization; Mobile GIS for in-field spatial data collection, exchange, and analysis; Open data access; Geoportal for publishing and sharing spatial data; and Early warning system which works based on real-time social media data mining. The chapter presents the structure of iMSEP, demonstrates examples how it facilitates disaster management, and discusses potential improvements.