Combining multiple data sources to map stakeholder involvement in wildfire governance in the American West

Keywords: wildfire governance, digital trace data, text data, climate change
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 05:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 06:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 45

Abstract

In the interior western US, the health of forests and the safety and socioeconomic vitality of rural communities are interdependent. Facing this reality, new decentralized governance networks have emerged to improve ecological and socio-economic health in rural forested areas. These networks are constantly exploring alternative policies, practices, and technologies for managing western forests for change. However, it is not clear who is involved in these networks, as well as how connected these actors are. This project combines multiple sources of data (digital trace data, newspaper articles, and other sources) to uncover the network structure of interactions among organizations and individuals involved in wildfire-related activities in the American West. By using a combination of python-based web crawlers and in-depth text analysis, we created a comprehensive data set of communities, actors, discourses, and involvement regarding wildfires, forest health, and climate change. This project highlights the potential of data triangulation and data-driven techniques to explore the human dimensions associated to wildfires in the American West.