Barriers to integrating crowdsourced crisis mapping into disaster management: lessons from Türkiye

Purpose This article investigates the potential barriers that would be encountered in integrating a crowdsourced crisis data mapping project into Türkiye's disaster management system, exploring how existing institutional structures, communication practices and stakeholder relationships would shape such an initiative. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory, embedded single-case study design is employed, drawing on in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions with 48 participants, including disaster management officials, civil society organizations, open mapping communities, a municipal planning unit and earthquake survivors, complemented by nonparticipatory online observation of a digital volunteer mapping community and field observation in affected districts. Findings The analysis identifies several interconnected barriers: the absence of open data policies, institutional concerns over data security, inadequate volunteer coordination, one-way communication practices and political polarization as a cross-cutting factor undermining collaboration. Research limitations/implications All fieldwork predates the February 6, 2023 earthquakes; later material comes from secondary sources. As no institutionally integrated initiative yet exists in Türkiye, the barriers identified are anticipated rather than observed. Practical implications The article offers concrete, data-grounded recommendations: drawing on the existing volunteer systems of established institutions, using central coordination to agree common data standards during pre-disaster preparedness, addressing open data literacy through targeted institutional training and countering mistrust through transparency. Originality/value This is one of the first comprehensive qualitative studies examining institutional readiness for crowdsourced crisis mapping in Türkiye, incorporating perspectives from all key stakeholder groups.