Progress and prospect for action data in people centred
disaster risk reduction
Andrew Collins

Disaster and Development Network, Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences,
Northumbria University, United Kingdom, NE18ST
andrew.collins@northumbria.ac.uk +44 (0) 7786073531 www.northumbria.ac.uk/ddn;
www.northumbria.ac.uk/geography
The role of data in risk reduction related practices, such as early warning, forecasting and gaming of
future disaster events has limitations due to increasingly recognised complexity of natural andhuman systems in generating risk environments. Further, in an era of exponentially more data being
generated, speeded up processes of data management, artificial intelligence for data application,
together with the threat of misrepresentation or fake data, will data initiatives sufficiently achieve
disaster risk reduction and resilience?
In this presentation I will explore how and why data has often been more actionable for disaster risk
reduction and response through shifts towards people centric approaches. Examples are drawn fromsome of the work I have been a part of for many years, aimed at enabling solution design for risk
reduction in society, where data is a part of what is needed. This is generally grounded research thathas attempted to increase focus on hazard and vulnerability mitigation through, for example, healthand well-being and educational drivers of community engagement in early warning, risk andrecovery management. The confluence of this work confirms that even in conditions ofmarginalisation people can control ecological and socio-economic risks where these are better
understood within local context, and whereby self-organisation is supported by appropriate risk
governance. DRR progresses or deteriorates without knowing all parameters of disaster risk.
Use of action data as part of multilateral forms of DRR includes engaging in emergency conservationand enhancement of environmental, economic and social care. However, this requires transitions
from linear supply driven versions of understanding risk towards ongoing discovery of uniquesolutions for unique times, places and people who urgently need sustainable DRR solutions. The
findings from this work therefore emphasises the need for a broad definition of data information inactionable DRR. Addressing DRR to achieve planetary sustainability necessitates ongoingreconceptualization of appropriate engagements with: i) data lacunas associated with theuncertainty of everyday lives of at risk people, ii) nuances of representation, communication andinterpretation, iii) the effects of disengagement with critical data based information, and iv) the
manipulated data of hegemony, where these are contrary to the principles of equity, self-relianceand prevention that are needed in DRR and response.
Whilst much progress in DRR science and technology can be referred to in our current era, it issuggested through this presentation that we are yet to witness the breakthrough needed across therange of interconnected sectors that greater emphasis on ‘action data’ could facilitate. Somesuggestions for ways forward are offered for enhanced data engagement awareness and applicationin disaster risk reduction. With no limits to multiple types of further investment, there is thepossibility to use the opportunity of action data and associated approaches to orientate and drive
more impactful DRR science, policy and practice at all levels.