Digital Transformation and Disaster Management in the Technological Society: A Review of Emerging Innovations, Governance Challenges, and Community Resilience Strategies

Muazu Muhammad Adam (Center for Emergency, Crises and Disaster Risk Management, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun)
Christopher Onosemuode (Center for Emergency, Crises and Disaster Risk Management, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun)
Sunday Akin Dare (Department of International Studies, Baze University, Abuja)
Musa Lawal Falke (Center for Emergency, Crises and Disaster Risk Management, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun)
Hadiza Sani Dangulbi (Center for Emergency, Crises and Disaster Risk Management, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun)

Abdurrauf Science and Society
Vol. 2 No. 4 (2026): Abdurrauf Science and Society

Digital transformation (DT) is increasingly reshaping disaster management by enabling a transition from predominantly reactive approaches to predictive, data-driven, and resilience-oriented systems. However, the benefits of emerging digital technologies are often constrained by institutional, infrastructural, ethical, and socioeconomic challenges. This review examines the role of DT in enhancing disaster resilience and proposes an Integrated Digital Disaster Resilience Framework (IDDRF) that connects technological, governance, social, and resilience outcomes for sustainable disaster management. A comprehensive review of recent scientific literature was undertaken, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, big data analytics, blockchain, digital communication, and intelligent decision-support systems. The reviewed evidence was thematically analysed according to applications in disaster prediction, early warning, risk assessment, emergency response, recovery, and climate adaptation. The findings demonstrate that DT enhances disaster resilience through real-time hazard monitoring, predictive modelling, rapid information dissemination, improved situational awareness, evidence-based decision-making, and more efficient emergency coordination. Nevertheless, implementation is hindered by inadequate digital infrastructure, fragmented institutional arrangements, cybersecurity risks, data governance and privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, digital inequality, and limited technical capacity. The review therefore identifies human-centred AI, explainable decision-support systems, ethical data governance, inclusive digital access, community participation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and integration of indigenous knowledge as critical requirements for effective digital resilience. The proposed IDDRF provides an integrated pathway for policymakers, disaster management agencies, researchers, and technology developers to align digital innovation with governance, social inclusion, sustainable development, and long-term climate resilience.