Using GIS in Disaster Response Operations: A Case Study of Locating Logistics Depots in Istanbul

Introduction

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) defines “a disaster” as “a sudden, calamitous event which seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or society and causes human, material and economic or environmental losses that exceed the community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own resources” (IFRC, 2018). IFRC explains Disasters in two ways: “natural hazards” and “technological or man–made hazards.” Natural hazards are naturally occurring occurrences which can have a slow or rapid onset. Natural hazards are classified as geophysical activities, such as earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, and volcanic activities; hydrological activities, such as avalanches and floods; climatological activities, such as extreme temperatures, drought, and wildfires; meteorological activities (e.g., cyclones and storms/wave surges); and biological activities (e.g., disease, epidemics, and insect/animal plagues). This binary categorization has been challenged over the past several years by an ever-stronger claim that regardless of the event a disaster is actually manmade. Ilan (2020) explains that “Disasters are not the consequence of natural causes; they are the consequence of human choices and decisions. We put ourselves in harm's way; we fail to take measures which we know would prevent disasters, no matter what the environment does.” Smith (2006) echoes this perspective, suggesting that “It is generally accepted among environmental geographers that there is no such thing as a natural disaster. In every phase and aspect of a disaster—causes, vulnerability, preparedness, results and response, and reconstruction—the contours of disaster and the difference between who lives and who dies is to a greater or lesser extent a social calculus. Hurricane Katrina provides the most startling confirmation of that axiom”. After analyzing several related studies, Williams (2008) points out that “Recent disasters have been of such scale and complexity that both the common assumptions made about learning from them and the traditional approaches distinguishing natural from technological disasters (and now terrorism) are thus challenged”.

Whether we accept them as a natural event or the consequence of human choices and decisions, disasters cause significant effects on populations, including many fatalities, injuries, related health problems, damage to property, and negative effects on economies due to lack of preventative measures taken to reduce their impact. The latest World Disaster Report produced by IFRC notes a total of 3751 disasters worldwide for the ten-year period from 2008 and 2017. Over 2 billion people were affected. The estimated cost of damage in the 141 countries affected over that 10-year period is estimated to be US$1,658bn (IFRC, 2018). The IFRC operational budget was US$2.3bn over this same period of time.

In this study we focus on earthquakes; earthquakes are one of the most disruptive disasters with respect to their economic and social loses. Twenty percent of the IFRC’s budget has been used in response to earthquakes (IFRC, 2018) for the ten-year period from 2008 and 2017. Earthquakes are occurring almost constantly around the world. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) data, there have been over 14,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher, and about 150 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or greater every year since 1900; only some of those earthquakes cause great destruction (Yaltırak, et al. 2003).

Unfortunately, it is not possible to prevent earthquakes, but it is possible to decrease the effects of disasters by taking precautions beforehand, such as building structures and infrastructure that is less affected by earthquakes. Further, possible locations for logistics depots (i.e., locations where relief supplies can be pre-positioned) can be determined and, when possible, optimized to support rescue and recovery operations.