Journal of Education and Health Promotion

A comparative study on the Earthquake Information Management Systems (EIMS) in India, Afghanistan and Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Author

. Sima Ajami

Department of Health Information Technology, Health Management and Economics Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract
ABSTRACT
Context: Damages and loss of life sustained during an earthquake results from falling structures
and flying glass and objects. To address these and other problems, new information technology
and systems as a means can improve crisis management and crisis response. The most
important factor for managing the crisis depends on our readiness before disasters by useful
data. Aims: This study aimed to determine the Earthquake Information Management System
(EIMS) in India, Afghanistan and Iran, and describe how we can reduce destruction by EIMS
in crisis management. Materials and Methods: This study was an analytical comparison in
which data were collected by questionnaire, observation and checklist. The population was
EIMS in selected countries. Sources of information were staff in related organizations, scientific
documentations and Internet. For data analysis, Criteria Rating Technique, Delphi Technique
and descriptive methods were used. Results: Findings showed that EIMS in India (Disaster
Information Management System), Afghanistan (Management Information for Natural Disasters)
and Iran are decentralized. The Indian state has organized an expert group to inspect issues
about disaster decreasing strategy. In Iran, there was no useful and efficient EIMS to evaluate
earthquake information. Conclusions: According to outcomes, it is clear that an information
system can only influence decisions if it is relevant, reliable and available for the decisionmakers in a timely fashion. Therefore, it is necessary to reform and design a model. The model
contains responsible organizations and their functions.

Keywords

Crisis management
destruction
earthquake
information systems
natural disaster 
1. Institute of Management and Planning Studies, Tehran, Iran. The
role of community knowledge in disaster management: The bam
Earthquake lesson in Iran. Tehran, Iran. Available from: http://www.
engagingcommunities2005.org/abstracts/593-bamdad-n.html. [Last
cited in 2005].
2. Tavakoli N. Health information management in disaster’ proceeding
of second national health and management disaster meeting.
Tehran, Iran. 2004 Nov 24–26.
3. Rastegari H, Ajami S. An overview of the management of a crisis.
Health Inf Manag 2005;2:73.
4. Ajami S. The role of information management in rendering
healthcare in disasters. In Proceeding of Second National Health
and Management Disaster meeting, Tehran, Iran. 2004 Nov 24–26.
5. The U.S. Geological Survey, Earthquake Hazards Program. Disaster
Management Information System, fact sheet 04: Largest and
Deadliest Earthquakes by Year 1990 – 2005’. Available from: http://
www.sristi.org/dmis/facts. [Last cited in 2009].
6. Division of International Health, Department of Health and Human
Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Epidemiology
Program Office. Public Health Systems Development; Health
Information Systems. [online]. United States. Available from: http://
www.cdc.gov/epo/dih/systems.html. [Last cited in 2000].
7. Seismological Bureau of Yunnan Province. Improvement of
Earthquake disaster reduction and early warning systems.
[online].PR, China. Available from: http://www.chinaproject.
network. [Last cited in 2001].
8. Lippeveld T, Sauerborn R, Bodart C. Design and implementation
of health information systems. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health
Organization; 2000.
9. Rock ML. Effective crisis management planning: Creating a
collaborative framework [online]. Educ Treat Child J 2000;23:248-64.
10. Seeger MW, Sellnow TL, Ulmer RR. Communication and
organizational crisis. USA:Praeger; [Last modified 2006 Apr 11].
11. Kabirzadeh A. Disease control and prevention after natural disaster.
In Proceeding of Natural Health and Management of Disaster
Meeting. Tehran, Iran. 2003 May 27-29.
12. Ajami S, Fatahi M, Moradi Z, Nematolahi N. An analysis studies on
Earthquake Information Management Systems (EIMS) in Japan,
Afghanistan and Iran and proposing a suitable model for Iran. In
Proceeding of International Disaster Reduction Conference (IDRC).
Switzerland, Davos: From 27 August to first of September 2006.
13. Ajami S, Fatahi M, Moradi Z. Reduce destroys and rule of EarthquakeInformation Systems the Comparative study in Turkey, Afghanistan
and Iran. In Proceeding of International Disaster and Risk Conference
IDRC. Switzerland, Davos, from August 25 to August 29, 2008.
14. Ajami S, Tavakolimoghadam O. The study of information
management system of medical records office in Kashani hospital
based on the existing standards. Health Inf Manage J 2006;3:63-9.
15. Chang R. Success through Teamwork: A Practical Guide to
Interpersonal Team Dynamics (High-Performance Team Series)
(Paperback). Homa-ye-Salamat 2006;2:63-5.[ in Persian].
16. Ajami S, Fatahi M. The role of earthquake information management
systems (EIMSs) in reducing destruction: A comparative study of
Japan, Turkey and Iran. Disaster Prev Manag 2009; 18:150-61.
17. Society for Research & Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and
Institutions Organization. Disaster Management Information System’
[online]. Available from: http://www.sristi.org/dmis/dmi_system.
[Last cited in 2009].
18. Afghanistan Information Management Service (AIMS) Project
[United Nations Development Program (UNDP)]. Information
Management for Natural Disasters: Pilot Project for Kabul &
Kunduz Province. 2005, Kabul and Kunduz Province. Afghanistan.
Available from: http:// www.aims.org.af/services/sectoral/d_m/
dmis_for_afg_a_p_p.pdf. [Last cited in 2005].
19. Dedeoglu N. Role of the Turkish news media in disaster
preparedness. In Proceeding of International Disaster Reduction
Conference (IDRC). Switzerland, Davos: 2008. From August 25 to
August 29, 2008.
20. Doi K, Kato T. Real time Earthquake information system in Japan.
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting; 2003. Abstract # S21B03-12/2003.
21. Yaliner O. Description of Urban information system and emergency
management concepts, examples in Turkey and in the World. In
Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of
Science in the Department of Geodetic and Geographic Information
Technologies a Thesis Submitted to the Graduate School of Natural
and Applied Sciences of the Middle East Technical University,
January 2002
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 2, Issue 3
Summer 2012
Pages 1-7

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us