Mobile Apps in Flood Disasters: What Information do Users Prefer?

Mobile applications have prompted new interest due to its potential in efficiently supporting information gathering during floods. In order to improve the usage of mobile applications during flood disasters, a guideline for flood mobile applications is needed. Based on a field study of mobile applications used in 2011 Thailand Floods and interviews with developer and users, this study identifies what users prefer to know via mobile applications and investigates their impact on the download number of mobile applications. This is one of the first empirical studies on flood mobile applications and contributes to research by focusing on the information aspect of users’ preference and its effect on the success of mobile applications. It also contributes to practice by providing suggestions to mobile application developers with regard to users’ preference