Open source GIS application on emergency and evacuation planning for flood disaster through web mapping

Abstract

Open Source Geographic Information System (OSGIS) has brought a tremendous change to the traditional approaches in digital mapping which has led to the new age of collaboration and provides benefits to the users in term of low cost and tailored made, particularly for those who are in great demand for enhanced decision making support tools. This paper discusses the use of OSGIS software in term of flood emergency response for decision makers. Digital mapping by means of OSGIS offers the potential to contribute to disaster management, specifically in term of the evacuation plan. GIS database was built based on data collected and analyzed from a survey of 390 households which are randomly selected in Segamat flood-prone areas. Evacuation time profiling and conflict point analysis was carried out through QQIS an OSGIS software which is later published using OS cloud computing web mapping browser (QGIS Cloud). Thematic maps showing categories of flood risk and evacuation time can easily be accessed by stakeholders through the web. This will enable decision makers, including the public, to plan for better evacuation planning and emergency response.