Alhajj, RedaRokne, JonArvandi, Alireza2024-01-032024-01-032023-12-28Arvandi, A. (2023). Extracting information from Reddit for emergency management - wildfire case (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.https://hdl.handle.net/1880/11783410.11575/PRISM/42677The advent of social media has revolutionized the way information is disseminated and consumed during emergency situations, such as wildfires. This study provides an in-depth analysis of public sentiment and communication patterns on Reddit during wildfire events in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Utilizing a comprehensive methodological framework, the research employs data mining techniques, sentiment analysis, and comparative methods to explore the digital discourse surrounding wildfires. The methodology integrates topic mining, keyword extraction, and sentiment analysis to evaluate the nature and scope of discussions within Reddit communities. Subreddit activity is scrutinized to understand regional and national concerns, while sentiment analysis offers insights into the emotional undertones of the discussions. A comparative analysis between Reddit posts and news articles is conducted to assess the interplay between social media narratives and traditional media reporting. The findings reveal a strong regional focus in discussions, reflecting the direct impact of wildfires on local communities. National concern is also evident, with broader societal implications being discussed in both general and niche subreddits. Temporal analysis of subreddit activity indicates that engagement is predominantly event-driven, with implications for emergency services, content creators, and community managers. This research contributes to the understanding of social media’s role in crisis communication and public sentiment analysis. It highlights the potential of platforms like Reddit to serve as real-time barometers of public concern and provides actionable insights for stakeholders involved in crisis management and communication. The study’s methodologies and insights have broader applications, offering a template for analyzing online discourse in response to various emergencies.enUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Emergency ManagementWildfireData miningEducation--Sciencesmaster thesis