Application of web hazard maps to high school education for disaster risk reduction

• Published in: International journal of disaster risk reduction 2022-04, Vol.72, p.102866, Article 102866
• Main Authors: Song, Jiali, Yamauchi, Hiroyuki, Oguchi, Takashi, Ogura, Takuro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Disaster risk reduction education; High school education; Paper hazard maps; Web GIS; Web hazard maps
• ISSN: 2212-4209; 2212-4209
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102866

Hazard maps are irreplaceable in dealing with emergency disaster cases, and geography instructors utilize paper hazard maps for teaching at various educational levels. In recent years, web hazard maps have received attention in disaster risk reduction (DRR) education. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of web hazard maps in DRR education compared with conventional paper hazard maps, an aspect that has rarely been studied previously. The core technology of online web hazard maps is geographic information systems (GIS), and their combination is referred to as Web GIS. Online DRR educational materials for Japanese and Chinese high school students were constructed using Web GIS and geospatial data, including hazard information, to investigate the educational feasibility of web hazard maps. Important findings from questionnaire surveys on students who used both paper and web hazard maps showed that 1) most students thought that informative and easy-to-use web maps need to be introduced to DRR education, and 2) they could identify risk areas more accurately using web hazard maps, indicating that DRR education should utilize modern technologies. However, the surveys also indicated a few limitations, such as usability issues and technological constraints, suggesting that DRR education should ideally combine online materials and paper maps for maximum effectiveness. The results and observations may not only be used in future studies, but also in the formulation of effective DRR courses internationally.