The contribution of artificial intelligence (AI) to disaster response and management
The main purpose of conducting this study was to investigate the applications of AI technologies to the UAE disaster management and response activities. The justification behind pursuing this topic for research was pushed by the basic fact that the UAE has been facing an increasing level of natural disasters occasioned by climate change, and this has led to the overall pressure to seek alternatives provided by technology to address these pressing concerns to the safety and development of the country. As new forms of natural disasters continue to pose significant threats to public safety in different parts of the world, governments need to continue being innovative on how they can protect the interests and the safety of their citizens during such events. The invention of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analytics provide new possibilities in the management of natural disasters. The UAE was also chosen as one of the regions that have widely adopted the use of AI technologies in the recent past.
The research was conducted using a qualitative research approach. The Technology Acceptance Model and Resource Based View & Decision-Making theory were used to build the theoretical foundation of the study and to make a representation of facts for the study. The data collection involved a total of 15 participants in managerial positions within organizations involved with Disaster Management (DM) practices. These organizations were The Red Cross, Red Crescent, Sanid, and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority. Further secondary data was also collected from existing literature on the topic.
The findings of the study reveal that AI technologies have huge potential benefits in helping DM agencies and governments deal with natural disasters. This potential could be achieved mainly by facilitating predictability of natural disasters and in providing warning systems in partnership with communication companies that can help to provide warnings to the public about heightened risks of disaster and, therefore, lead to significant saving of life and property.
Based on the study findings, a number of conclusions were drawn which form the vital contributions of this research to the field of study. This study identified the use of top-down and stakeholder-based engagement policies to be incorporated into the adoption of AI in DM as one of the most effective approaches to achieving an integrated adoption of AI in problem solving. This engagement is needed in policy development, technical development, and research processes to ensure that the AI initiatives being adopted are effective. This research also contributes to practice by identifying the various AI technologies and examining the possibility of incorporating them in disaster management and response in the UAE.
History
Institution
Anglia Ruskin UniversityFile version
- Published version
Thesis name
- Professional Doctorate
Thesis type
- Doctoral
Affiliated with
- Faculty of Business & Law Outputs