Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-13-2024

Publication Title

Digital Government: Research and Practice

Volume

5

Issue

3

First Page

2639

Last Page

0175

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1145/3660643

Abstract

Tribal governments bear an uneven burden in the face of escalating disaster risks, climate change, and environmental degradation, primarily due to their deeply entrenched ties to the environment and its resources. Regrettably, accessing vital information and evidence to secure adequate funding or support poses difficulties for enrolled tribal members and their lands. In response to these challenges, this article collaborates with tribal nations to co-design intelligent disaster management systems using AI chatbots and drone technologies. The primary objective is to explore how tribal governments perceive and experience these emerging technologies in the realm of disaster reporting practices. This article presents participatory design studies. First, we interviewed seasoned first-line emergency managers and hosted an in-person design workshop to introduce the Emergency Reporter chatbot. Second, we organized a follow-up design workshop on tribal land to deliberate the utilization of drones within their community. Through qualitative analysis, we unveiled key themes surrounding integrating these emergency technologies within the jurisdiction of tribal governments. The findings disclosed substantial backing from tribal governments and their tribal members for the proposed technologies. Moreover, we delved into the potential of chatbots and drones to empower tribal governments in disaster management, safeguard their sovereignty, and facilitate collaboration with other agencies.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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