Digitalization in Disaster Risk Reduction: The Use of Smartphones to Enhance the Safety of Informal Settlements in Iringa, Tanzania

Giulia Jole Sechi; Eefje Hendriks; Maria Pregnolato

doi:10.1007/s13753-023-00483-0

Volume 14 Issue 2

Apr. 2023

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Giulia Jole Sechi, Eefje Hendriks, Maria Pregnolato. Digitalization in Disaster Risk Reduction: The Use of Smartphones to Enhance the Safety of Informal Settlements in Iringa, Tanzania[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2023, 14(2): 171-182. doi: 10.1007/s13753-023-00483-0

Citation:

Giulia Jole Sechi, Eefje Hendriks, Maria Pregnolato. Digitalization in Disaster Risk Reduction: The Use of Smartphones to Enhance the Safety of Informal Settlements in Iringa, Tanzania[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2023, 14(2): 171-182. doi: 10.1007/s13753-023-00483-0

Citation:

Giulia Jole Sechi, Eefje Hendriks, Maria Pregnolato. Digitalization in Disaster Risk Reduction: The Use of Smartphones to Enhance the Safety of Informal Settlements in Iringa, Tanzania[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2023, 14(2): 171-182. doi: 10.1007/s13753-023-00483-0

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Digitalization in Disaster Risk Reduction: The Use of Smartphones to Enhance the Safety of Informal Settlements in Iringa, Tanzania

doi: 10.1007/s13753-023-00483-0

1. Department of Architecture, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08018, Barcelona, Spain;
2. Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente, 7514 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands;
3. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1QU, UK

Funds:

The authors express their heartfelt gratitude to the NGO IBO Italia (Federica Gruppioni, Paola Ghezzi, Adam Duma, and Mussa Malik)

their support in reaching out to the participants, keeping everyone safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, and translating from Swahili has been essential and deeply appreciated. Another special thank you goes to Sylvia Scoggin for the constructive proofreading. Maria Pregnolato acknowledges the UK Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure & Cities (UKCRIC):Urban Observatories (EP/P016782/1). This publication is part of the project "Enabling vulnerable communities to build back safer" granted to Eefje Hendriks by the Dutch Research Council (NWO):VI.Veni.211S.120.

Accepted Date: 2023-03-18

Available Online: 2023-04-28

Publish Date: 2023-04-11

Abstract

Abstract

Housing in informal settlements often lacks construction techniques that adopt criteria of resilience to natural hazards. Smartphones are rapidly diffusing in economically developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the current use of smartphones by the masons of the informal settlements of Iringa, Tanzania, and to identify pathways for improving their construction practices. Data were collected through a mixed method approach that includes in-depth interviews, surveys, and a focus group with masons. The results reveal that only a few masons received formal training, most of them have never interacted with a qualified engineer nor consulted trained professionals when needed. Most masons own a smartphone and they extensively use it to gather technical information from the web, transfer money through mobile payments, share images of construction details, and promote their work on social media. The broad use of smartphones shows potential for enhancing construction quality. This article presents a unique analysis of the use of smartphones in the construction of informal settlements in Tanzania, which could be extended to other countries. Based on the findings, new strategies are proposed to engage with local stakeholders and foster the exchange of technical knowledge for safer settlements via smartphones.
- Disaster risk reduction,
- Housing,
- Informal settlements,
- Smartphones,
- Tanzania

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References(76)

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