The role of information and communication technology (ICT) in strengthening the social resilience of the cities (Case Study: Flood in Ilam, Iran)

The urban challenges such as natural disasters including floods, have been considered as prominent issues for the urban researches and also the interdisciplinary researches in terms of technology and sociology, due to the concentration of population, industries, services and infrastructures in the cities. Using information and communication technology (ICT) as a strategy to increase social resilience and to reduce risks has been proposed in societies. In this article, the role of this technology in flood management in Iranian cities has been questioned through the Qualitative method. The goal is to prioritize the strategies and aspects of the use of this technology. In order to apply the research, a case study concerning the flood in Ilam was carried out. The statistical population of the research consists the city residents and the specialists of the urban issues and crisis management. The information was gathered through the extensive literature as well as in-depth field interviews with residents(12 people)floodvictims(three people)and experts(15 people)untilsaturationvia purposefulsampling.Inordertoanalyzetheinformationwith Delphitechnique, i.e., usingthe opinionsof experts(15 people),the strategieswerecompleted,evaluatedandprioritizedfor twotimes; laterforfurtherverifiabilitythefindingswerereviewedwithcaseobjectiveobservationandSWOTanalysis. Inthetirhdturn,thefinal consensusof theexpertswasreachedon thepriorityof strategiesand its relation to ICT components. Itwas found that reaching the highest positionof technology in urban resilience would be probable by strengthening "social capital”.The strategiestaking the secondrank areincludingthereduction of vulnerability,theincreaseof communitydevelopmentandqualityoflife, respectively; besides, the strategies for expanding access and social justice, improving governance and community accountability, increasing technical and creative knowledge, and finally creating transitional cities are in the lower priorities. Therefore, the effectiveness of technology in cities without social dimensions, especially ethnic-tribal and location intelligence, is questionable.