Book Review: Disaster Management and Information Technology: Professional Response and Recovery Management in the Age of Disasters. Editors: Hans Jochen Scholl, Eric E. Holdeman, F. Kees Boersma. Published by Springer Publishers; ISBN-10 3031209389; Price is $100.

Content: A comprehensive guide to the multifaceted world of disaster management, seamlessly integrated with modern technology.

Reviewer: David Hammel, Command and Control Specialist, Founder and CEO of Balcony.io, a Silicon Valley tech company offering a Messaging and Management platform for Orchestrating Disaster Response.

Overview:
“Disaster Management and Information Technology” is an enlightening read that not only addresses the current technological applications in disaster response but also provides a robust mapping of challenges and solutions, both current and future. It paints a vivid picture of the incredible complexity of disaster management and emphasizes the human role in it, regardless of the technology used.

Highlights:

1. Pointing at the multiple Dimensions of the Disaster Management Matrix: The chapters systematically address those various dimensions:
   • Where: Addressing diverse environments, from urban and rural to building-specific challenges.
   • Who: The wide scope of people and roles involved, from field responders, through UAV operators and Incident Managers, all the way to the decision-makers who select the technologies to embrace.
   • What: From high-level solution overviews to intricate algorithms, offering a breadth of technological and operational examination.
2. Funding and Contributions: Includes insights into various sources and players promoting innovative IT solutions like the European-funded project FASTER, or the wisdom from authorities like Peter T. Gaynor (Acting Secretary DHS). The book confidently references military and public health best practices, enhancing the inherent cross-silo nature of Crisis Information Management Systems.
3. The Complexity and the Human Role: The heterogeneous chapters illuminate the multifaceted nature of Decision Making in disaster management, highlighting the delicate balance between technological innovation and the integral role of humans in addressing disaster response.

Final Thoughts:
“Disaster Management and Information Technology” is an indispensable resource for professionals in emergency response and information technology. Its real-world focus and accessible language make it a standout guide, particularly for those seeking operational insights rather than purely academic ones. For example, reading this book before devising an IT action plan will provide a broad understanding and appreciation of the subject matter, and a very good base on which to take confident first steps.

From funding considerations to detailed algorithms, from military references to public health systems, and from current practices to future innovations, this book bridges the gap between the trivial and the innovative.

I eagerly anticipate the future explorations in this field, and it would be a commendable endeavor if the editors decide to extend this work. A sequel could address the next chapter of Disaster Management as it embraces the next wave of disruptive Information Technologies: Insights generated by Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence; information carried by broadband Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications (such as Starlink), cutting-edge 5G networks, or the recently introduced Sat-enabled smartphones; all served via Mass-Orchestration multimedia messaging and Augmented Reality user experience; while being hosted on the cloud and offered under a Software as a Service (SaaS) business model.

The intersection of these technological advancements paints a promising and thrilling picture for the evolution of disaster management. Personally, I may not know if, in 50 years from now, we’ll still be driving cars, piloting airplanes, or even cooking food the way we do today. Yet, I remain confident, albeit regretfully, that the need to manage ever more complex disasters will persist. With this in mind, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all practitioners and enthusiasts. It left me excited for what lies ahead in this vital and ever-evolving field.