TechnologyTechnology in in

Disaster Management Disaster Management

Shyma S GShyma S GAssistant ProfessorSt. Pius X College

Rajapuram

What is Disaster Management?What is Disaster Management?

Preparedness -- activities prior to a disaster.Examples: preparedness plans; emergency exercises/training; warning systems.

Response -- activities during a disaster.Examples: public warning systems; emergency operations; search and rescue.

Recovery -- activities following a disaster.Examples: temporary housing; claims processing and grants; long-term medical care and counseling.

Mitigation - activities that reduce the effects of disasters.Examples: building codes and zoning; vulnerability analyses; public education.

Living with Disasters…

Are we living in a more dangerous world than our grandparents lived?

India and Natural DisastersIndia and Natural Disasters

India is one of the most disaster prone countries in the India is one of the most disaster prone countries in the worldworld..

Over 65% land area vulnerable to earthquake;

70% of land under cultivation prone to drought;

5% of land (40 million hectares) to floods;

8% of land (8,000 km coastline) to cyclones.

A Major Disaster occurs every 2-3 years;

50 million people affected annually

1 million houses damaged annually along with human,social and other losses

During 1985-2003, the annual average damage due to natural disasters has been estimated at 70 million USD

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, GOI: BMTPC, Ministry of Urban Development, GOISource: Ministry of Agriculture, GOI: BMTPC, Ministry of Urban Development, GOI

Date: December 26, 2004

Large earthquake strikes off the tip of Sumatra, Indonesia 07:00 hrs

Seismological Station relays data of seaquake from

seismometer center07:06 hrs

Center revises magnitude to 8.5, mentions potential for tsunami

08:04 hrs

Sources: NYT, Sunday Times, Tamilnet,

Was this the reason?

Disaster Management in India Disaster Management in India

Paradigm shift from relief and recovery to Risk & Vulnerability managementIntroducing culture of preparedness at all levelsStrengthen decentralized response capacity in the country Empowerment of vulnerable groups and ensuring livelihoodsLearning from past disasters.

Role of Technology in Disaster ManagementRole of Technology in Disaster Management

To catalyze the process of preparedness, response and mitigation.Providing access to vital information on Disaster preparedness to citizens. GIS based decision support system for planning.Designing early warning system.Emergency communication for timely relief & response measures.Building Knowledge Warehouses to facilitate planning and policy making.

Key Challenge - Information is Scattered

Law Enforcement Data Exchanges

Criminal Justice, Corrections Agencies

Regional Centers of Operations

Central,Regional,

Fire Dept, Early Responders, Other Disciplines

InformationRequirements

Enabling the Possibilities

We must collect, integrate, and analyze the scattered pieces of data and information required to assemble the big picture

Emergency Information Management

•Defined as the collection, consolidation, analysis and dissemination of the information — requires that the emergency manager be fully cognizant of the needs of the eventual users of the information.

•Effective emergency information management requires concerted planning, organizing, controlling, and influencing of human, material, and information resources to endure that information is disseminated to the right decision-makers at the right time to satisfy those needs.

Role of Disaster information system in various phases of Role of Disaster information system in various phases of Disaster ManagementDisaster Management

•Risk & vulnerability identification•Risk & vulnerability identification

– A database of past disasters effects to determine the risks in particular geographic location.

– Zoning of hazards using GIS. – Validating the disaster history database with

hazard maps and other external data for accuracy in risk assessment.

•Preparedness for response & recovery•Preparedness for response & recovery

– Database of existing skilled human & material resources for emergency response.

– Database on human resources trained on various aspects of disaster management.

– Develop preparedness plans based on risk, available skill & resources.

– Converting Disaster Management plans into electronic documents for easy accessibility and easy updating.

•Mitigation strategies and policies•Mitigation strategies and policies

– Mitigation strategies, policies and legislation based on statistical facts & figures from various databases.

– Development of a virtual knowledge net for creation of a network of institutions, developmental organizations and Government dept. for information sharing and preserving the research efforts.

Information systems frameworkInformation systems frameworkfor Disaster Managementfor Disaster Management

Reducing disaster losses & conserving developmental gainsReducing disaster losses & conserving developmental gains

Planning & Policy decision for disaster preparedness &

mitigation

Hazard mapping &

Vulnerability Assessment

Database of disaster history

for trend & pattern analysis

Database of disaster

management plan.

Awareness & training

materials

Inventory of legal,

techno legal, administrative

and institutional framework

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22

33

44

Quick emergency response & recovery

Human & material response

resources database

Database of Infrastructure,

lifelines & critical facilities.

Database of trained human

resources.

Demographic information

GIS based information

system

44

33

22

11

elem

ents

Knowledge base for disaster managementKnowledge base for disaster management

Facilitating

55

55

ContentContent

• India Disaster Resource Network

• Disaster Inventory

• GIS in Disaster Management

• Emergency Communication plan

• Use of ICT at community level

• Proposed incident surveillance system

Online inventory of resources for Online inventory of resources for disaster response preparednessdisaster response preparedness

The biggest problem for disaster The biggest problem for disaster managers to respond to disasters is managers to respond to disasters is

quickly mobilizing equipments, human quickly mobilizing equipments, human resources and critical supplies to the resources and critical supplies to the

emergency spot.emergency spot.

•When disasters strike:When disasters strike:

• Disaster managers needs lot of specialized equipments and skilled human

resources for quick response.

•When disasters strike:When disasters strike:

• Delay in response may result in increased loss of lives and livelihoods.

•When disasters strike:When disasters strike:

• There is a lack of knowledge of whereabouts of these resources either in

the neighboring District or State.

Online resource inventory for disaster managementOnline resource inventory for disaster management

• National initiative under the Govt. of India-UNDP DRM programme in collaboration with National Informatics Center, Government of India.

• Online database for capturing the countrywide inventory of equipments and skilled human resources for emergency response.

• A database to minimize emergency response time by effective decision making on mobilization of human & material resources.

• Systematic data collection & collation from Govt. line departments ,Public Sector Units, Corporate sector etc at the district level.

•The Progress…The Progress…• Decentralized resource inventory being managed by the districts.

• 80000 records from 565 districts of 35 States/UTs already been captured.

• Districts are updating their inventory quarterly.

• Partnership with Builders’ Association of India (BAI) for Corporate Sector resource inventory.

ContentContent

• India Disaster Resource Network

• Disaster Inventory

• GIS in Disaster Management

• Emergency Communication plan

• Use of ICT at community level

• Proposed incident surveillance system

Disaster Inventory Database- Objectives

• A database of disasters to understand trends and patterns.

• Capturing ‘Local’ level disaster data to understand the emerging risks at the local level.

• Geo-referenced inventory of small, medium and large-scale disasters to understand trends and patterns.

• To support planning & policy decisions for disaster preparedness and mitigation with statistical evidences.

• Providing an objective base for vulnerability assessment and priority setting.

Preliminary Findings-IndiaPreliminary Findings-India

• Epidemics and cyclones are the greatest causes of deaths

• Epidemics are highly associated with floods, but also occur as independent incidents.

• Fire is the greatest cause of household destruction, comparable to Cyclone.

• Floods affect people more than any other type of disaster.

Distribution of Disasters- INDIA

contentcontent

• India Disaster Resource Network

• Disaster Inventory

• GIS in Disaster Management

• Emergency Communication plan

• Use of ICT at community level

• Proposed incident surveillance system

Geography Information System in in Disaster ManagementDisaster Management

• GIS allows disaster managers to quickly access and visually display critical information by location.

• This information can be easily shared with disaster response personnel for the coordination and implementation of emergency efforts

GIS usage in Disaster Management

• Pre disasters– Preparedness– Risk Analysis

• Hazard zonation• Vulnerability mapping

– Response planning• Spatial/ non-spatial database

– Administrative boundaries(state, district, block/ taluka)– River network– Road network– Railway network– Airports

– Prediction– Forecast Models (disaster wise)– Vigilance system (observation & warning)

• Post Disasters– Relief– Disaster identification– Immediate response– Recovery– Rehabilitation– Impact study

Map Not to Scale – For demonstration purpose only

Community Contingency Plans Community Contingency Plans linkages on GIS based systemlinkages on GIS based system

Map Showing Natural Disaster Risk Management Programme States of India

Monitoring disaster possibilities using Satellite communication and GIS tools

Floods

Global warming

Bio-Surveillance systems: o Show spreading patterns of critical diseases o Short term(SARS, Bird Flu) or long term (HIV/AIDS)o Also address the issue of bio terrorism

Stochastic modelling:o Mathematical simulations based on real data

Layers Taken for analysis :

1. Health Centres

2. Multipurpose Cyclone shelters

3. Storage Facilities

4. Buffer zones

5. Location of Boats

6. River systems

7. Roads

• Information can be retrieved upto village level.

• Block to Village can be zoomed in to view the geographical location of resources.

• Details about item/resource can be seen and query based resources finding is possible

• Flexibility of moving macro to micro level in a same window.

Linkage has been established to

1. District Disaster management Plan (DDMP)

2. Block Disaster Management Plan (BDMP)

3. Gram Panchayat Disaster Management Plan (GPDMP)

4. Village-CCP

Description about the Area

ContentContent

• India Disaster Resource Network

• Disaster Inventory

• GIS in Disaster Management

• Emergency Communication plan

• Use of ICT at community level

• Proposed incident surveillance system

YES

YESNO

MAY BE

MAY BE

MAY BE

MAY BE

Technology in Disaster Preparedness and Response

Does Early Warning matter?

Early Warning Systems - monitoringeg. ADPC Tsunami and Multi-Hazard Regional Early Warning System

1. Recorder on sea bed measures water pressure every 15 mins - an unusual result triggers a reading every 15 secs.

2. Buoy measures surface conditions and sends this plus data from sea bed to satellite

3. Satellite receives data and relays it to ground stations

1. Float in a "stilling well" tube measures sea level

2. Data is processed and sent to satellite

3. Satellite transmits data to alert centres

1. satellite

2. Satellite transmits data to alert centres

Early Warning Systems

It is an end-to-end game…

State Level Communication

POLNET HUB

NEOC NIC HUB

NATIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PLAN

POLNET HUB

-

NATIONAL EOC

MOBILE EOC

NICNET HUB OPTIONAL BACK-UP FOR DEOC CONNECTIVITY

PUBLIC ISDN

NETWORK

DEOC-N

Reserved VSATs

THRO’ POLNET

SEOC-N

DEOC-1

DEOC-2

THRO’ POLNET

NQRT-1 VSAT

GMPCS PHONE

GMPCS PHONE

Parent Hospital

Mobile Medical Team

THRO’ POLNET

Case StudiesCase Studies

• India Disaster Resource Network

• Disaster Inventory

• GIS in Disaster Management

• Emergency Communication plan

• Use of Technology at community level

• Proposed incident surveillance system

Technology in Disaster Recovery(short term)

Developed by LSF in the aftermath of tsunami

Used LAMP (Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP) software stack

The main applications and problems they address are:

Helping to reduce trauma by effectively finding missing persons.

Coordinating and balancing the distribution of relief organizations

in the affected areas and connecting relief groups

Registering and tracking all incoming requests for support and

relief up to fulfilment and helping donors connect to requirements.

Tracking the location and numbers of victims in the various camps

and temporary shelters set up all around the affected area.

Successfully used in Kashmiri earthquake (2005), Philippines Guinsaugon landslide (2006) and Indonesian Yogjakarta earthquake (2006)

Disaster Recovery (Immediate Aftermath)

Role ofInternet:Aftermath of Turkey Earthquake

A major earthquake in Izmit, Turkey on August 17, 1999

Damage: 16,000 deaths, 120,000 houses

Fixed and mobile networks almost down

Only Internet was still up

It was used to locate missing persons, joining families, diverting essential items, prioritizing activities, donor coordination etc

Disaster Recovery (Immediate Aftermath)

Web 2.0 tools- Sarvodaya blog site

Sarvodaya was not ready for a ‘tsumani’

No resource to support the thousands displaced

The result: A blog site called www.sarvodaya.org

Developed overnight by two volunteers

This site connected the Sarvodaya teams at the international level

Sir Arthur C. Clarke made a public request for donations through this site

Site referred by Google, Apple and Nortel

Collected amount more than USD 1 million over few weeks time

Disaster Recovery (Immediate Aftermath)

Web 2.0 tools – Social Networking

Example: DAD – Development Assistance database

An automated information management system designed to improve efficiency and coordination of donor activities in the country.

Promotes good governance and public accountability and transparency

First used in Afghanistan. Now rolled out in Indonesia, Thailand, Maldives and Sri Lanka

Has a user friendly web interface

Disaster Recovery (long term)

 

Risk Reduction

Mitigation and

PreventionPreparedness Response Recovery

GIS √√√ √√√ √√   √

Analytical tools √√√ √√√ √   √

Blogging     √√   √√√

Internet √√ √√ √√ √√ √√√

Mobile (voice)     √ √√√ √√√

Mobile (non-voice)

      √√√ √√√

Open Source √√ √√     √√

Satellite Communication

√√√ √√√   √√√ √√√

Web 2.0, Social Networking

    √ √ √√√

TV, Radio     √√ √√√ √√√

Fortunately it does not have to be one technology over another…

Case Studies : Community LevelCase Studies : Community Level

73 information centers in 12 districts of OrissaEarly warning dissemination, information on disaster preparedness, agriculture, governance, health etc.Self sustaining models in partnership with Panchayats, NGOs, community.Facilitated by local volunteers and NYKS volunteers.

Orissa ExperienceOrissa Experience

SETU Information Management SystemSETU Information Management System- Gujarat- Gujarat

A nodal point for facilitation of the rehabilitation process underway in Kutch for a defined geographical cluster of 15-20 villages. A network of 22 such centers across 10 talukas.Act as a coordination cell for relief and rehab in a cluster Village community uploading information and feedback about on going projects and activities, base line resource information etc.Accessing info. On schemes, entitlements, technical know how in various areas.

Case Studies: Community LevelCase Studies: Community Level

Case StudiesCase Studies

• India Disaster Resource Network

• Disaster Inventory

• GIS in Disaster Management

• Emergency Communication plan

• Use of ICT at community level

• Proposed incident surveillance system

Preliminary Data Collection Format

Incident Server

Research and analysis

3rd Party Analysis

Tool

Maps Graphs

Research and analysis of time series disaster data through 3rd party analysis tools for trends, patterns of disasters and risk

identification using graphs, maps etc.

Archived

>Situation Reports>Alerts>Damage Assessment>Need Assessment>Immediate Relief Requirements>Intervention Gap Analysis>Long term recovery and rehabilitation planning>Disaster Trends and patterns report>Risk identification

Reports and Utility of the System

Knowledge NetworkKnowledge Network

• Creating and connecting community of practitioners in Disaster Management through a knowledge based portal.

• A network of organizations, research institutions, Government agencies and DM practitioners.

• Facilitating direct interaction, information sharing, virtual conferencing (e-mail/ video conferencing etc)

Together towards a safer world…Together towards a safer world…