The Role of Emerging Technologies and Social Justice in Emergency Management Practice: The Good, the Bad, and the Future

Abstract

Emerging technologies have the potential to significantly change the way people work and function, with tremendous impacts on people and the societies in which they live. For emergency management practice, efficient and effective use of emerging technologies can save both lives and property, while also improving the way emergency managers communicate with the populations they serve. However, the use of emerging technologies can also have negative and unforeseen consequences. Thus, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of how emerging technologies function as a communications and information-sharing tool to improve the practice of emergency management.

Furthermore, as with the emergence of any new technology, social justice issues must be considered. For example, is an emerging technology affordable enough for all to use, or does the technology add to the so-called “digital divide,” increasing the gap between the haves and have-nots? Or does the emerging technology serve as an equalizer, providing access and availability for all socio-economic status groups? This chapter serves as an introduction to these issues and how they impact emergency management practice in a discussion of how the communication process functions, how emerging technologies impact communication strategies in emergency management, and the importance of including a social justice framework in emergency management operations and plans to understand how these emerging technology tools can be used to keep people and property safe from disasters.

Citation

Buchanan, P.R. and Sparagowski, C. (2022), "The Role of Emerging Technologies and Social Justice in Emergency Management Practice: The Good, the Bad, and the Future", Jerolleman, A. and Waugh, W.L. (Ed.) Justice, Equity, and Emergency Management (Community, Environment and Disaster Risk Management, Vol. 25), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 175-199. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2040-726220220000025008