Legal and ethical considerations for demand-driven data collection and AI-based analysis in flood response

Abstract

During a disaster, the timely provision of customised and relevant data is of utmost importance. In the case of floods, data from remote sensing (satellite-based or airborne) is often used, but in recent years data from social media platforms has also been increasingly utilised. Focusing on these data sources, this study provides an in-depth assessment of requirements by emergency responders. Furthermore, the paper sheds light on the legal and ethical considerations that need to be taken into account during data collection and processing. A particular focus lies on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for data analysis in disaster response. Topics such as privacy preservation and AI-informed decision making are highlighted throughout the paper. The investigation was carried out based on expert interviews with scientists, an extensive literature review, and workshops with emergency responders.