The document proposes the creation of a global disaster information marketplace aimed at improving the accessibility and efficiency of disaster-related information. It outlines the importance of sharing information, addressing barriers such as fragmentation and lack of integration, and suggests an infrastructure that includes various information exchange mechanisms. The proposal emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and academic institutions, to enhance disaster response and preparedness.

1. A Proposal Global Disaster Information Marketplace: Presented to: United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction January 18-22, 2005 Albert J. Simard

2. Outline Sharing information Information market Market infrastructure

3. Benefits Making disaster information more readily available when, where, and as needed. Lowering the cost of producing, providing, and using disaster information. Leveraging the efforts of existing disaster information and relief networks. Supporting more timely and better coordinated disaster response. Creating synergy to enable the production of new kinds of information. Sharing Information

4. Barriers Information is fragmented and hard to find Different languages, cultures, and mandates Lack of methods to integrate information Information is often not formatted to be useful when and where needed Sharing information

5. Principles People Knowledge must be volunteered; it cannot be conscripted People need time to provide and search for knowledge Sharing must be recognized, rewarded, and facilitated A champion is insufficient; a majority must participate Infrastructure Build a real /virtual “place” for exchanging knowledge IT greatly increases market efficiency Don’t force fluid knowledge into rigid structures Don’t focus on systems; also consider content Sharing information

6. Mechanisms Talking (real, virtual) E-mail (individuals, list servers, distribution lists) Chat rooms, forums, discussion groups Communities of interest, informal networks Groupware (teams, working groups) Conferences, workshops, knowledge fairs Data bases, information bases, knowledge bases Digital libraries (repositories, search, retrieval) Sharing Information

7. Finding the Right Information There are some excellent disaster Web sites Some order is emerging , Most sites are hard to find We need a structure for disaster information Sharing Information

8. Outline Sharing information Information market Market Infrastructure

9. A Business Model: Information market Supply (Providers) Demand (Users) Providers and users connect through an Information Market

10. Attributes Price – reciprocity, repute, altruism Trust – visible, ubiquitous, top-down Signals – position, education, networks Inefficiencies – incomplete information, asymmetry, localness Pathologies – monopolies, artificial scarcity, trade barriers Adapted from Davenport (1998) Information market

11. Autonomous providers and users Diversity - mandates, jurisdictions, roles Trust - security, privacy, control Legal - accountability, responsibility, liability Certification - inclusion, authenticity, reliability Quality - completeness, timeliness, accuracy Infrastructure - standards, networks, systems Information market

12. The Provider Face Information market Provider Face Academia NGOs Private Sector Public Sector Government disaster organizations Universities, colleges, institutes, schools Disaster-related businesses Non-Government disaster organizations

13. The User Face Information market Public, educators, youth, seniors, media Policy advisors, decision makers, regulators User Face Public Practitioners Policy Makers Business Businesses for innovation and marketing Scientists, managers, professionals, specialists

14. General Information Information market

15. Information for Practitioners Fire Monitoring, Mapping, and Modeling System Information market

16. Information Facilitator Enable information search and retrieval Support global database search and access Create value-added information products and reports Support networking among communities of interest Assist providers with communication and cataloging Help users with searching, reformatting, and interpretation Information market

17. Outline Sharing information Information market Market infrastructure

18. Portals: Gateways to cyberspace Links to related sources Limited content Add value to content Search capability Organize information Customizable interface Content Portal Market infrastructure

19. Market infrastructure How (technical) Databases Technology Scientific knowledge What (subjects) Type of disaster Function Libraries Where (place) Interactive maps Place names Latitude & longitude Who (directories) Organizations Experts Products & Services When (time) Events & meetings Schedules Time series Why (about) General GDIN Management

20. Scale Market infrastructure

21. Prototype Cube Design Market infrastructure

22. Rotating the Cube Market infrastructure

23. Canadian Forest Fire Portal Market infrastructure

24. The Way Ahead Establishment agreements, plans, funding Design concepts, architecture, projects Prototype Build a key component Development Integrate components Implement Operationalize, maintain Summary Http://www.gdin.org