Researchers eye 'social networks' beneath surface of water and flood management
Published on 02 February, 2012
In the first study of its type, researchers will use ‘social networks analysis' to understand how stakeholders communicate and share information about water resources and flooding disasters in their region...
A $280,000 research grant from the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) is supporting the study led by CQUniversity and including academics from the University of Melbourne, Griffith University and the University of Maryland*.
Researcher Julie Mann says that, for regional communities to respond to climate change, finding ways to communicate effectively will be critically important.
"Social network analysis has already successfully been used to manage complex problems (for example, in natural resource management), and in disaster management (such as the Victorian bushfires)," Ms Mann says.
"This research project is the first time SNA will be used to explore water resource management and flooding. Specifically, the research will focus on the three case study areas of Central Queensland (Rockhampton, Emerald) and South-East Queensland (Brisbane).
"We have a project team that includes Australian and American research experts, and we intend to engage closely with the key stakeholders from the three case study areas.
"The project outcomes will include preparing research reports and fact sheets, as well as staging stakeholder workshops, to help local organisations and to develop policy at the regional, state and national levels."
Project leader, Dr Susan Kinnear, says the research team is interested in interviewing representatives from organisations involved in management of water resources and infrastructure; and/or in disaster management and recovery effort during periods of flooding. Prospective participants can inquire further via 4930 9336 or s.kinnear@cqu.edu.au.
"Water body reps can participate in this research by agreeing to spend approximately 20 minutes doing an interview with us, in the form of either a telephone or face-to-face interview," she says.
"During the interview, they will be asked questions about how their organisation operates, and in particular, the ways in which it communicates and collaborates with other organisations.
"There will also be some questions regarding how they might expect their organisation to operate in the future."
Interviews will be conducted by a researcher from CQUniversity or Griffith University. Answers will be used to identify the key ways in which organisations communicate and interact with each other, in order to respond to flooding, or to manage water resources and infrastructure more effectively.
The project commenced November 2011 and will run to December 2012.
* As well as Julie Mann, CQUniversity academics involved include Dr Susan Kinnear, Dr Dave Swain and Kym Patison. Other collaborators include Professor Garry Robins (University of Melbourne); Dr Vicky Ross (Griffith) and Dr Elizabeth Malone (Joint Global Change Institute, University of Maryland).