Digital Solutions for Disaster Management: Analyzing the Impact of the February 2023 Earthquake in Türkiye

Abstract

This research investigates the involvement of information technologies, including communication platforms and social media solutions, in managing earthquake disasters, specifically focusing on the February 2023 earthquake in Türkiye. In order to achieve this, a comparative framework is constructed, which incorporates four main categories, namely goal, providers, target phase, and platform. The data is gathered from diverse sources, and a total of 130 solutions are identified immediately following the February 2023 earthquake in Türkiye. After conducting a thorough examination of these solutions and removing any duplicates and irrelevant options, the final dataset comprises 89 unique solutions sourced from 82 providers. According to the study's findings, the solutions employed in mitigation and preparedness phases prioritize proactive measures and planning, while the ones in response phase witnesses a significant increase in activities related to aid campaigns, emergency response, information dissemination, and support services. The solutions in recovery phase further intensifies support services to aid affected communities. Web-based platforms are predominantly used during different phases of disaster management, with mobile platforms playing a crucial role in communication and on-the-ground activities. Private organizations exhibit strong involvement in developing IT platforms, while public entities and NGOs contribute to a lesser extent.