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Browsing by Subject "Diffusion of innovations"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
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    The state of GIS in developing countries: a diffusion and GIS & society analysis of Uganda, and the potential for mobile location-based services
    (2012-09) Eria, Sami
    Geographical Information Systems (GIS) were first introduced in the developing world by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to promote environmental conservation activities in in the mid-80s. There have been far fewer studies on the diffusion of GIS in developing countries as compared to industrialized countries. All diffusion studies use a common framework, the Diffusion of Innovations theory. Most of the studies carried out in developing countries have focused on the public sector, and ignored the nongovernmental organizations (NGO), International Organizations (IO), academic, and private sectors. What is the current state of GIS in all these sectors in developing countries? A holistic understanding of the current state of GIS is important to governments in developing countries for the planning of geospatial infrastructure. It is also important to the World Bank, United Nations, and international development agencies, such as the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for planning effective policies on technology transfer to developing countries. The research in this dissertation is based on a case study of GIS diffusion in Uganda. I argue that there are a number of political, social, economic, and technological factors that have led to varying degrees of GIS diffusion in Uganda's public, academic, NGO, IO and private sectors. I also argue that future trends in GIS in developing countries point to a shift from desktop to mobile platforms because of the ubiquity and pervasiveness of mobile phones. What is the potential for mobile location-based services (LBS) as alternative tools for promoting spatial thinking and spatial awareness, and for supporting spatial decision making in civil society? A mixed methods methodology is employed in this research, and facets of diffusion of innovations theory are tested. Further, the research analysis utilizes the five perspectives of GIS and Society discourse to investigate the evolution and current state of GIS in Uganda, and the potential for LBS.
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    Wildfire in the wildland-urban interface: public attitudes, behavior, and policy.
    (2012-05) Johnson, Jayne Fingerman
    As the wildfire problem in the U.S. escalates -- with increasing length and severity of wildfire seasons, increasing fire suppression and structure protection costs, and increasing loss of homes and impact to human lives -- it becomes imperative to understand the public's attitudes and behaviors in order to work with them concerning actions they can take to reduce their chances of becoming wildfire statistics. This dissertation first gauged public attitudes and beliefs on a U.S. national scale using computer content analysis of national and regional news media. This study found that public debate about the Healthy Forests Initiative and Healthy Forests Restoration Act was reframed as a need for regulatory reforms to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. The second study also used computer content analysis of news media to gauge public attitudes and beliefs, but with a focus on individual actions that may be taken rather than on national policy. This study examined the public's understanding of defensible space and other actions homeowners can take to protect their property from wildfire. We found a paucity of discussion in the news media about positive actions that homeowners could take. Such actions were grossly overshadowed by media coverage of wildfires and their destruction. With news media as a primary information source for residents in the wildland-urban interface, this study highlighted an opportunity for more effective messages about homeowner actions that can be taken. The third study in this dissertation examined a unique case study - wildfire preparedness on the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota - through the lens of diffusion of innovations theory. Applicability of this case study to other locations is limited by a locally prevalent availability of water sources and social and demographic characteristics of the area, but the case does highlight ways in which diffusion of innovations theory can be useful in evaluating how wildfire preparedness innovations become part of a homeowner's response to risk. Together, these three studies highlight challenges and opportunities for communicating with the public about ways they can mitigate their risk of wildfire.