UH West O‘ahu Professor Sites Critical Role of GIS in Newly Published Article

In a recently published article in the fall 2009 issue of the peer-reviewed journal, The Public Manager, UH West O‘ahu Professor Dr. Ross Prizzia focuses on the critical role that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play during crises in Hawai‘i.

In his article, titled “The Role of GIS in Emergency Management in Hawai‘i,” Dr. Prizzia says the GIS is key in facilitating communication, cooperation, and coordination in and among public, private, non-profit and military organizations that work together to plan for and respond to natural and man-made disasters in Hawai‘i.

Preparation for and response to volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and floods are of particular importance in Hawai‘i. The purpose of the research is to describe and explain the value of GIS in the context of disaster and emergency management, and to identify the ways that GIS has increased the effectiveness of disaster preparedness and response in Hawai‘i.

Dr. Prizzia is chair of the Division of Professional Studies and coordinator of the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management program at UH West O‘ahu. He is the author of numerous journal articles, book chapters and four books and also served as peer reviewer for the Journal of Environmental Economics and the American Review of Public Administration. Dr. Prizzia received the UH Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award in 1987.