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ICTs in disaster-risk reduction

ICTs in disaster-risk reduction. Rohan Samarajiva IDRC-CIDA workshop 12 July 2007, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Agenda. Disaster risk reduction: what must be done Disaster cycle and the role of ICTs Selected cases Warning LIRNEasia-Sarvodaya Last-Mile HazInfo Project Response and preparedness

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ICTs in disaster-risk reduction

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  1. ICTs in disaster-risk reduction Rohan Samarajiva IDRC-CIDA workshop 12 July 2007, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

  2. Agenda • Disaster risk reduction: what must be done • Disaster cycle and the role of ICTs • Selected cases • Warning • LIRNEasia-Sarvodaya Last-Mile HazInfo Project • Response and preparedness • Lanka Software Foundation’s Sahana

  3. Disaster risk reduction: Minimizing loss of lives, livelihoods, property from hazards that intersect with human habitations • What we must strive for: • Saving of lives and livelihoods through systematic attention to risk reduction • ICTs are but one element • Significance depends on aspect of disaster cycle • Overall improvement in governance is what is required • ICTs can play a role, hopefully catalytic

  4. The disaster cycle

  5. Role of ICTs • In essence, ICTs are about • Moving information from one physical location to another at the speed of light (communication) • Qualitative improvements in the manipulation and retrieval of information (information) • Because governance centrally involves both information and communication, ICTs can play an important role in its improvement • But, in interest of time, only two areas where Sri Lanka has comparative advantage will be discussed

  6. Physical and symbolic worlds, absent linking technologies Mediated interpersonal Physical world where hazards occur Symbolic world where action originates

  7. The physical, the symbolic & their linking through ICTs, simplified Physical world where hazards occur Warnings Mediated interpersonal Mass media Symbolic world where action originates Warnings More time to run; more lives saved

  8. But ICTs are just part of the solution • The research that will be reported during the next presentation will discuss the larger institutional problems as well as the related ICT issues

  9. ICTs in preparedness, response and recovery

  10. ICTs for response • In the immediate aftermath of a disaster there is a need to manage information • Disaster = breakdown of normalcy  uncertainty  need for information (and coordination  communication of information) • Sahana includes easily adaptable database modules • Missing Person Registry • Organization Registry • Request Management System • Camp Registry • Volunteer Management • Inventory Management • Situation Awareness

  11. More than response . . . • Parachuting in Sahana is good • Pakistan earthquake • Philippines mudslides • Indonesia earthquake, etc. • But prior customization and training (=preparedness) is better • Example of current efforts to deploy Sahana as part of New York City preparedness plans • Ongoing work on making Sahana a central element of the Sarvodaya Community Disaster Management Center and the strategic plan • Integrating communication features across modules will make it even better

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