Elements: Open-Source Cyberinfrastructure as a Decision Engine for Socioeconomic Disaster Risk (DESDR)

Climate change is overwhelming our ability to face disasters. We need preparedness, response, and finance at unprecedented scales. Directing resources is too complex for concrete decision-making without integrating all levels of players. Top-down solutions are ineffective–design without crowd input is error-prone and sidesteps governance and justice. Although cogeneration is common, tools are not yet powerful enough for the massive scales necessary. The Decision Engine for Socioeconomic Disaster Risk (DESDR) provides a novel framework for this class of problems that now chains integrated design and action for millions of farmers in Africa. The key is a configurable data, interface, and analysis framework based around a design element seeded in communications linking the universe of decision-makers. The element requires two properties: embedded cross-evaluation, and an action/information interface. The model that prioritizes assets across time, place, or people, was parameterized through the DESDR crowd framework to provide solutions serving millions.