ABSTRACT
This forward-looking, concluding chapter covers four topics. The first is a collection of geographic information systems (GIS) for disaster management special topics that includes (a) big data, (b) machine learning and artificial intelligence, (c) virtual reality and augmented reality, and (d) geographic information science for disaster management, including an interview with the executive director of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS). The second topic is the future of GIS for disaster management as defined by a research agenda as well as ideas for research funding sources and proposal writing advice. The third chapter section provides advice on developing a career in GIS for disaster management and how to find a job in the field, with a strong emphasis on taking an interdisciplinary approach to pursuing a job in the GIS for disaster management field as well as keeping an open mind and being flexible with career pursuit. The final chapter section covers organizations, conferences, journals and magazines, training and education, and volunteer opportunities to keep current in the GIS for disaster management field. The chapter concludes with a technical exercise on classifying hurricane damage imagery with machine learning.
