Internet of Things in disaster management systems: A systematic review

Disasters are unexpected, sudden events that may cause monumental damages to both materials and human lives. Hence, the unpredictability and destruction that follow when a disaster happens to pose a dire challenge for researchers, scientists, and governments to find ways to effectively handle the situation and flow of information when such an event strikes. The Internet of Things (IoT) presents a solution that involves using one or more mobile devices connected over the network, thus making the transfer of data and information more effective and efficient. This paper presents a holistic analysis of the state-of-the-art IoT technologies which can answer the challenge posed above, in addition to the demand for efficiency, mobility, accuracy, as well as better communications between the command center and all actors involved in disaster operations. The applications of IoT have varied for many purposes. We divide those purposes into two broad strokes of pre-disaster management and post-disaster management IoT-aided systems. For pre-disaster management, the IoT-aided systems are mostly used to predict the possible disaster that might happen using sensors placed in strategic places. Finally, for post-disaster management, the IoT-aided systems aid in improving the effectiveness and accuracy of evacuation, relief, and victim-tracking efforts.