Information Science Reference Handbook of Research on Digital Services in Crisis, Disaster, and Emergency Situations (Advances in Human Services and Public Health)

About the Author Lídia Oliveira has a degree in Philosophy from the University of Coimbra (1990), a Master's degree in Educational Technology from the University of Aveiro, in partnership with the University of Valenciennes (France) and Mons (Belgium) (1995), and a PhD in Sciences and Technologies of Communication from the University of Aveiro (2002). She did her post-doctorate (2009-2010) at CES - Centre for Social Studies - Associate Laboratory of the University of Coimbra. In 2010 she did her Aggregation Examination at the University of Aveiro, in the scientific area of Sciences and Technologies of Communication. She is been a professor and researcher in the Department of Communication and Art at the University of Aveiro since 1995 until the present (since 2014 she is Associate Professor with Habilitation). She investigates the implications of information technology and network communication on cognitive and social routines, of the individuals, groups and organizations. Her main scientific interest is in cyberculture studies and social network analysis. Her areas of interest are: Social Network Analysis, Cyberculture Studies, Sociology of Communication, Science and Technologies of Communication, ICT and Education, Multimedia, Information Systems, Digital Libraries, Science Communication, Communication in the Scientific Community (theoretical and empirical studies). She has published both nationally and internationally in peer review journals, book chapters and, conferences proceedings. She teaches on the undergraduate Course of New Communication Technologies; on the Master in Multimedia Communication (interactive multimedia and audio-visual digital branch); on the Master in Reading Promotion and School Libraries; on the Doctoral Program in Multimedia and Education (Consortium between the Department of Education and the Department of Communication and Art, University of Aveiro) and on the Doctoral Program in Information and Communication in Digital Platforms (Consortium between the Department of Communication and Art at the University of Aveiro and the Faculty of Letters of the University of Porto). Product Description The contemporary world is characterized by the massive use of digital communication platforms and services that allow people to stay in touch with each other and their organizations. On the other hand, it is also a world with great challenges in terms of crisis, disaster, and emergency situations of various kinds. Thus, it is crucial to understand the role of digital platforms/services in the context of crisis, disaster, and emergency situations. Digital Services in Crisis, Disaster, and Emergency Situations presents recent studies on crisis, disaster, and emergency situations in which digital technologies are considered as a key mediator. Featuring multi- and interdisciplinary research findings, this comprehensive reference work highlights the relevance of society's digitization and its usefulness and contribution to the different phases and types of risk scenarios. Thus, the book investigates the design of digital services that are specifically developed for use in crisis situations and examines services such as online social networks that can be used for communication purposes in emergency events. Highlighting themes that include crisis management communication, risk monitoring, digital crisis intervention, and smartphone applications, this book is of particular use to governments, institutions, corporations, and professionals who deal with crisis, disaster, and emergency scenarios, as well as researchers, academicians, and students working in fields such as communications, multimedia, sociology, political science, and engineering.