@article {bnh-3955, title = {The smoke is rising but where is the fire? Exploring effective online map design for wildfire warnings}, journal = {Natural Hazards}, volume = {88}, year = {2017}, month = {09/2017}, pages = {1473-1501}, chapter = {1473}, abstract = {

The current study sought to offer guidance for developing effective web-based mapping tools for wildfire warnings by identifying (1) the important content for facilitating individuals{\textquoteright} decision-making, and (2) the optimal interface design for ensuring usability and ease of information access. A map-based warning tool was prototyped in the Australian context, followed by a usability and effectiveness evaluation through individual interviews and verbal protocol analysis to assess participants{\textquoteright} interaction with the mapping interface and information in response to the simulated warning scenario. The results demonstrated variations in participants{\textquoteright} approaches to wildfire warning response, revealing varied information needs. Specifically, most participants relied on their own assessment of the prospective threat, requiring specific wildfire-related information before eliciting a response. In contrast, the decision of a minority of the participants was motivated by response guidance from agencies, and accurate wildfire information was less important for their response. Imperative information for both types of residents therefore needs to be highlighted in a map-based warning tool to cater to a wide audience. Furthermore, a number of heuristics were identified for designing effective interactive functions to facilitate the control of, and access to, the various maps and textual information presented on the map-based warning interface.

}, doi = {10.1007/s1106}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007\%2Fs11069-017-2929-9}, author = {Yinghui Cao and Bryan J Boruff and Ilona M McNeill} } @article {bnh-3954, title = {Towards personalised public warnings: harnessing technological advancements to promote better individual decision-making in the face of disasters}, journal = {International Journal of Digital Earth}, year = {2017}, month = {03/2017}, abstract = {

Official warnings are essential for informing the public of impending hazards and promoting their responses before a disaster occurs. However, research has identified that traditional public warnings, such as generic text messages based on large geographic regions, often fail to promote appropriate responses by at-risk residents. Recently, there has been an increased focus on using map-based approaches for communicating public warnings. However, a systematic framework to guide the design of effective mapping instruments for this purpose is lacking. The researchers sought to fill this gap by merging the scholarly understanding of factors influencing warning effectiveness with the contemporary spatial capacities of the emergency management sector. The current paper presents the conceptual framework resulting from this merger, which can be used to direct the design and implementation of map-based warnings that offer\ personalisedrisk visualisation and provide\ personalised\ decision support to motivate appropriate responses. An example is then provided to illustrate how this framework can be applied for the development of personalised bushfire warnings in an Australian context. Underpinned by webGIS technologies, the proposed framework shows a potentially ground-breaking approach to improve public warning communication by fostering more efficient and effective risk personalisation and response related decision-making by individuals.

}, doi = {10.1080/17538947.2017.1302007}, url = {http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/citedby/10.1080/17538947.2017.1302007?scroll=top\&needAccess=true}, author = {Yinghui Cao and Bryan J Boruff and Ilona M McNeill} } @article {bnh-3953, title = {Is a picture worth a thousand words? Evaluating the effectiveness of maps for delivering wildfire warning information}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, volume = {19}, year = {2016}, month = {10/2016}, pages = {179-196}, chapter = {179}, abstract = {

Maps are a sensible approach for communicating wildfire early warnings to the public as such warnings often contain a multitude of spatial information. However, a reluctance of agencies was found in using accurate and timely wildfire maps for public warnings, a sentiment potentially fuelled by beliefs that the public are not fluent map-readers and may be overwhelmed by the large amount of information. To test the validity of these beliefs, this study empirically compared the effectiveness of maps versus traditional text-based approaches for communicating spatial-related wildfire warning information. Through an online survey, 261 residents from wildfire prone areas in Western Australia were asked to view multidimensional spatial information regarding a simulated wildfire scenario presented as either text messages or maps, and were subsequently queried for their comprehension, their risk perceptions, and the attractiveness of the presentation format. Additionally, the survey captured the time required to interpret the varied information representations. The results showed that appropriately designed maps prevailed over text messages for the communication of most wildfire warning information by improving comprehension, elevating risk perceptions, and increasing appeal to the public. However, an optimal communication approach would be to couple map designs with several imperative textual descriptors. Especially, the textual description of safe shelters in the community (i.e. location names and addresses) yielded indispensible meaning when the locations were well-known landmarks, and hence should not be replaced by map-based depiction. Furthermore, several heuristics were identified to facilitate the design of effective warning maps across hazards in general.

}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijdrr.2016.08.012}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420916301674?via\%3Dihub}, author = {Yinghui Cao and Bryan J Boruff and Ilona M McNeill} } @article {bnh-2509, title = {Defining Sufficient Household Preparedness for Active Wildfire Defense: Toward an Australian Baseline}, journal = {Natural Hazards Review}, volume = {10}, year = {2015}, month = {12/2015}, abstract = {

This study begins to offer a tangible definition and operationalization of the required level of preparedness for safely staying and defending a property by householders in Australian wildfires. A consultative workshop was conducted with a taskforce of national experts from Australia seeking to obtain consensus on the critical nature of a wide-ranging list of preparatory actions. An innovative methodology was employed to account for the potential relationship between the desired levels of preparedness and Fire Danger Ratings (FDRs), the indicator of fire weather intensity, as was long suggested by Australian fire agencies. The resultant model includes a checklist of critical preparatory actions for each FDR that portrays a minimum and essential preparatory condition to guide an individual{\textquoteright}s decision to stay and defend under the given fire condition. While the definition presented here does not provide a unique solution to ensure the safety of active defense under all household scenarios, it delivers a robust and comprehensive model to be applied to an average Australian residence while providing a baseline for further development of local-specific and household-specific preparedness standards. The model may also serve as a useful starting point for agencies in other countries to undertake a similar exercise.

}, url = {http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/(ASCE)NH.1527-6996.0000211}, author = {Yinghui Cao and Bryan J Boruff and Ilona M McNeill} } @conference {bnh-2100, title = {Mapping it out: a user-centred design framework for WebGIS public warnings - non peer reviewed extended abstract}, booktitle = {Adelaide Conference 2015}, year = {2015}, address = {Adelaide, Australia}, abstract = {

Research proceedings from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC \& AFAC Conference in Adelaide, 1-3 September 2015.\ 

}, author = {Yinghui Cao and Bryan J Boruff and Ilona M McNeill} } @article {BF-4335, title = {{\textquotedblleft}Should I Stay or Should I Go?{\textquotedblright} Defining the Preparatory Conditions in Support of Active Defence for Different Fire Danger Ratings}, year = {2013}, abstract = {

This is a paper presented at the 2013\ Bushfire\ CRC Research Forum.

In Australia, householders can stay and defend their properties during a bushfire if the\ household is adequately prepared. State (and territory) fire agencies have provided\ householders with checklists of desirable preparatory actions, including property preparation,\ judging ability of individuals, and acquiring equipment and resources for active defence.\ However, the lack of consistency in the existing checklists implies not all the listed\ preparatory actions are critical for making the decision of actively defending; in addition,\ agencies agree that the levels of desired preparedness should be associated with Fire\ Danger Ratings (FDR), the indicator of fire weather intensity. Still, no clarification exists\ concerning the exact levels to which a household should prepare to actively defend during\ different FDRs. This study therefore attempts to explore the critical nature of preparatory\ actions in relation to FDRs based on expert knowledge. To this aim, a survey was conducted\ with bushfire experts who were requested to rate whether each preparatory action is critical\ under different FDR conditions. Results from 36 experts confirmed our hypothesis that some\ preparatory items are not critical or only critical at certain FDRs. However, a more in-depth\ study with a range of experts is required to provide further consensus concerning the critical\ preparatory actions and to clarify discrepancies of opinions for items highlighted as\ controversial through the survey process.

}, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/cao_y.pdf}, author = {Yinghui Cao and Bryan J Boruff and Ilona M McNeill} }