Cybergeo (May 2024)
Impact du numérique sur la relation entre les systèmes de gestion de crise et les citoyens, analyse empirique en Île-de-France et en Région de Bruxelles-Capitale
Abstract
Disaster management systems have been using digital communication channels for a decade now. While the utilization of digital platforms and smartphone applications enhances the dissemination of knowledge about risks, social networks seem to offer a promising avenue for addressing the issue of citizen engagement during emergencies. However, prior to the 2020 pandemic crisis, little action appeared to have been taken to actively involve citizens. This article aims to explore the role of digital technology in reshaping risk communication and citizen engagement in disaster management. In 2018, we conducted a survey in the Île-de-France and Brussels-Capital regions to assess citizens' expectations and the impact of territorial communication strategies on their perception of risks. Our results suggest that digital technology contributes to disaster management in two key ways: through official communication before and during crises, and by facilitating citizen involvement during crises. Nonetheless, our analysis reveals that while digital technology allows for the proliferation of information channels to reach a wider audience, it does not facilitate the establishment of a bottom-up approach, the revision of risk-related knowledge, or the enhancement of citizen understanding of their role in disaster management.
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