-The importance of mapping based on geospatial open data sources in disaster management process: Case of 2023 Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake

Abstract

Since there is a race against time in the disaster management process, accessing and mapping accurate and sufficient location-based data sources is of critical importance. In this process, “geospatial open data sources”, which provide rapid access to data and support decision-making processes, make a difference as online, publicly accessible data that can be read, processed, used and mapped by computer programs, and it is seen that maps based on spatial open data sources are frequently used in decision-making before, during and after disasters in the disaster management process. In Turkey, on the other hand, studies on this subject came to the agenda with the February 6 Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake, which was recorded as one of the biggest disasters in the last century, and brought to the forefront the importance of decision-making based on mapping created from geospatial data by making use of the technology brought by digitalization. In this study, while emphasizing the importance of mapping based on geospatial open data in the disaster management process, it is questioned how the mapping created by using geospatial open data before, during and after the disaster will contribute to the decision-making process in disaster management, it is explained how the maps created from geospatial open data sources used in the response and recovery process of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake provide an experience for the disaster management process, and suggestions are made for possible future disasters.