A GIS-Based Process Model for Transitional Settlement Site Selection

In the event of a disaster resulting in large-scale population displacement, transitional settlements, commonly known as refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) camps, are planned under severe time, resource, and information constraints. The crucial task of transitional settlement site selection is often overlooked, resulting in poorly chosen locations with detrimental impacts to the displaced population, the host community, the natural environment, and the humanitarian community at large. This thesis explores the gaps in the current transitional site selection procedures, and proposes a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based process to address these gaps. The GIS- based process is demonstrated through a case study in Dadaab, Kenya, and discussed in terms of overarching barriers to greater implementation of GIS for humanitarian coordination.The results illustrate the potential for GIS-based procedures to support flexible yet evidence-based decision-making in transitional settlement planning, highlighting the role of current data sharing initiatives in enabling greater use of geospatial analysis in humanitarian coordination. While the GIS-based site selection process cannot eliminate the inherent challenges facing humanitarian coordinators, it can help to improve the management of information to better harness their experience and expertise, and ultimately improve emergency response outcomes.

Author

• Dell, Jessica

Language

• en

Keyword

• Refugee Camp
• Site Selection
• Geographic Information Systems
• Emergency Management
• Humanitarian Coordination
• Process Model

Date created

• 2013

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Geography

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Keeley, Melissa
• Rain, David

Committee Member(s)

• Cowan, Nuala

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/j3860711c