The ‘PROTECT’ Essential Elements in Managing Crisis Data Policies

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Zhang L., Ekmekci P. E., Murray V., BAŞBUĞ ERKAN B. B., Crawley F. P., Li X., ...More

Data Science Journal, vol.23, no.1, 2024 (Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 23 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.5334/dsj-2024-012
  • Journal Name: Data Science Journal
  • Journal Indexes: Scopus, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Compendex, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: Crisis data policy, data ethics, Open Science, ‘PROTECT’ elements, ‘UPs’ guidelines
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Based on a literature review, policy study, and a conference session discussion, this paper systematically analyzed seven predominant elements in crisis data policies, namely ‘people, resources, operation, technology, ethics, communication, and trust,’ abbreviated as the ‘PROTECT’ essentials. As a guiding checklist for crisis data policy, implementing the ‘PROTECT’ essentials should follow the guiding principles, in which people should be united to understand each other better and get prepared for intelligible data resources; the operation of crisis data work should be uniquely tailored to scenarios, with promising IT adoption guided by utilitarian ethics; crisis communication should be prompt and unambiguous; trust between people and machines should be sustainable. These can be summarized as the ‘UPs’ principles. All these efforts together contribute to a sustainable crisis data ecosystem. Selected case studies on the COVID-19 pandemic, and the February 6, 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquake, validate how the ‘PROTECT’ essential framework helps guide crisis data work. We hope the ‘PROTECT’ essentials and the implementation guidelines could provide insights into future crisis data policies.