Technologies Enabling Situational Awareness and Assessment During Disaster Response: A Literature Analysis from 2014 – 2024

The growing complexity and frequency of natural disasters necessitate advanced technologies to enhance situational awareness and conduct rapid needs assessments, ensuring timely and efficient disaster response. This study provides a comprehensive literature analysis of technologies enabling situational awareness and rapid needs during disaster response over ten years (2014–2024). The research aims to (1) determine which technologies enhance situational awareness during natural disasters and their impact on improving emergency response times, (2) identify the most effective technologies used for rapid needs assessment in disaster response and recovery efforts, and (3) uncover research gaps while predicting future technological trends in disaster management. Through a systematic review of over 50 peerreviewed articles, reports, and case studies, key technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), drones, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, mobile data collection platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI) were found to be pivotal in improving situational awareness and conducting rapid needs assessments. This study also identifies significant research gaps, such as greater integration between technologies and improved platform interoperability. Based on the findings, future trends will include advancements in AI-driven predictive models, blockchain for resource tracking, and augmented reality for situational visualization. These insights contribute to the understanding of how emerging technologies can be leveraged to improve disaster response efficiency, ultimately reducing loss of life and property. Keywords: Disaster Response Technology, Situational Awareness, Rapid Needs Assessment, Drones, AI, IoT in Disaster Managementassessment