Advanced
search

To read this content please select one of the options below:

Pandemic vulnerability knowledge visualisation for strategic decision-making: a COVID-19 index for government response in Australia

Tan Yigitcanlar (School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia)
Nayomi Kankanamge (School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia)
Tommi Inkinen (Department of Geography and Geology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland)
Luke Butler (School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia)
Alexander Preston (School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia)
Maqsood Rezayee (Department of Architecture, Nangarhar University, Jalalabad, Afghanistan)
Palvinderjit Gill (School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia)
Mahsan Ostadnia (Department of Urban Planning, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Giuseppe Ioppolo (Department of Economics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy)
Mahanama Senevirathne (Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka)

Management Decision

ISSN: 0025-1747

Article publication date: 1 June 2021

Issue publication date: 21 March 2022

829

Abstract

Purpose

First, the key vulnerability factors from the literature are identified. Second, using the vulnerability factors as indicators, a composite index is developed. Last, from the index values, a set of vulnerability knowledge maps, showing the vulnerability hotspots, are prepared.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to develop a pandemic vulnerability knowledge visualisation index to support the strategic decision-making efforts of authorities.

Findings

Ten indicators are identified as vulnerability factors that could significantly impact the virus spread risks. Verifying the identified hotspots against the recorded infected cases and deaths has evidenced the usefulness of the index. Determining and visualising the high-vulnerability locations and communities could help in informed strategic decision-making and responses of the authorities to the pandemic.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates that the developed pandemic vulnerability knowledge visualisation index is particularly appropriate in the context of Australia. Nonetheless, by replicating the methodologic steps of the study, customised versions can be developed for other country contexts.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships (or any other conflict of interest) that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Ethical approval was obtained from QUT's Human Research Ethics Committee (#1900000214). The authors also acknowledge the assistance provided by QUT Digital Observatory's data scientist Sam Hames in obtaining the social media data used in the study.

Citation

Yigitcanlar, T., Kankanamge, N., Inkinen, T., Butler, L., Preston, A., Rezayee, M., Gill, P., Ostadnia, M., Ioppolo, G. and Senevirathne, M. (2022), "Pandemic vulnerability knowledge visualisation for strategic decision-making: a COVID-19 index for government response in Australia", Management Decision, Vol. 60 No. 4, pp. 893-915. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-11-2020-1527

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles

Manage cookies

We’re listening — tell us what you think

Join us on our journey