Question

Why is technology important in disaster response operations? Are there technological tools that could be used in emergency management?

Answer 1

In this time Technology is beginning to dominate many aspects of the disaster management profession. This is particularly evident during disaster response. Today we have a number of large technology companies that offer their software or services for larger scale disasters.

The role of technology in emergency management is to connect, inform and ultimately save the lives of those impacted by disasters. Technology restores connectivity to impacted areas so that governments can communicate with citizens and people can find their loved ones. Thousands of people are killed every year in natural disasters. Rescue teams and aid agencies often rely on technology to conduct rescue missions and help those who have been affected. Over the years, new technologies have been developed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of first responders, further deepening the role played by technology in disaster aid relief.

In recent times, technology has been employed to fast track disaster relief efforts. For instance, drones and robots have been used to locate survivors and transmit information to emergency teams. They have also been used to drop humanitarian aid.

The SERVAL project was developed in response to the Haiti earthquake. The technology allows mobile phones to communicate directly with each other even when there is no network coverage. TERA (Trilogy Emergency Relief Application) is an SMS text system designed for two way communication between aid agencies and people affected by natural disasters.

The NASA Finder was developed in response to the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

ALIRT (Airborne Ladar Imaging Research Testbed) is a technology that can produce high-resolution 3D renderings of terrain and infrastructure. Among other things, the technology can help identify population changes at displaced persons camps, helicopter landing zones and road travel conditions. This information can help aid agencies to effectively dispatch vital resources, such as tents, blankets, water, food and medical supplies.

We have various technological tools which are very effective and good when dealing with Emergency:-

Access to 911:-

Dialing 911 is supposed to be simple, and it’s something that children should learn to do as early as possible in the case of an emergency. While smartphones and technology have improved and simplified many types of emergency response, they may have made things more difficult when it comes to these three numbers.Not all innovations are as sleek and simple as one might expect. Smartphones are a prime example. Though they have evolved to include advanced security features, they’ve also put some extra barriers in place for children who need to access emergency services. Today reported on a study by Rossen Reports where children were asked to demonstrate what to do in an emergency. Smartphone in hand, only one child could do it.

GIS SYSTEM:-

Geographical Infomation System have extreme value for emergency responders. This analytical mapping technology helps them understand where hazards are located, how many people are affected, and what response is needed. Susan L. Cutter, a Carolina Distinguished professor of geography at the University of South Carolina, explained the usefulness of GIS to Emergency Management magazine, saying, “GIS models and simulation capabilities enable decision-makers to both exercise response and recovery plans during non-disaster times and also understand near real-time possibilities during an event.”

Cutter explains that GIS systems can offer critical social data to help emergency responders and public health leaders understand a population’s vulnerability to an emergency event. She also notes that “Steps are being made in research circles to utilize ‘citizens as sensors’ to create a more realistic real-time picture for situational awareness to aid decision makers.” As in many areas of technology innovation, emergency management is seeing the evolution of systems that can turn big data into actionable information. In this sector, the details can literally save lives.

Smart Street Lamps:-Though street lamps may seem like an unlikely tool for emergency management and response, the innovative design of smart streets lamps gives seemingly ordinary lighting a powerful new layer of functionality. These street lamps are equipped with environmental sensors that detect hazards like rising water levels, strong winds, high temperatures, and lethal gas. They are also equipped with 180-degree cameras that offer a real-time look at pedestrian traffic and developing situations.

Emergency management teams can use these smart streets lamps   lamps to respond to threats and communicate essential information to citizens in the area. The lamps illuminate in four different colors, so area management can use them to indicate warnings, danger, or the safest escape route. Concealed speakers make it easier to make critical public announcements and a double-sided LED banner can display alerts.

With these powerful street lamps in place, emergency responders can gather essential information about threats and communicate with citizens at the street level before they’re able to arrive on the scene.

Emergency Communication Apps:- Widespread smartphone adoption makes these devices the ideal means for communicating emergency response efforts with the public at large. A few Research study revealed that 68 percent of smartphone owners use their devices to follow breaking news events at least occasionally. Seeing the potential in this trend, various countries has devloped the apps to spread the awareness about the disaster.

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