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Top 4 Emerging Technologies for Better Disaster Risk Management

by Rohan Agrawal•
Illustration of social media concept

Increasing urbanization and the nature-exploiting attitude of resource-hungry humankind exposed almost every region on the planet earth to disasters and climate risks. Shocking as it may sound but true that natural disasters in the last two decades accounted for nearly 80% of global economic losses in terms of death tolls and assets & resources. 

“Since 1980, more than 2.4 million people and over $3.7 trillion have been lost to disasters caused by natural hazards globally, with total damages increasing by more than 800%, from $18 billion a year in the 1980s to $167 billion a year in the last decadeâ€, statistical figures released by the World Bank reveal so. 

Now it is, by whatever means possible, critical for lives to be saved and damage to be minimized. Technology, with its unsurpassed potential to reach out and respond to down-and-outs in the time of distress, can help humankind plan prevention practices and build rapid response & recovery systems pursuant to the size and severity of disasters.

Emerging Technologies for Disaster Risk Management

Innovative technologies have made substantial contributions to improving disaster impact assessments, reliefs, and recoveries. But what draws more attention along the line is the far bigger role that the inventive tech industry can play for the welfare of mankind in the future, specifically in times of crisis and natural calamities. 

Seeing the growing significance of technology for disaster management, monitoring, and mitigation, we are shedding some light on how emerging technologies can set forth a bouquet of opportunities for the well-being of disaster-stricken souls and sites. 

Here are the 4 emerging technologies of this tech-dominant age that can facilitate humanity with better disaster risk monitoring and management practices: 

Cloud Computing for Seamless Data Access Over the Internet

Among all the emerging technologies that can help humans conquer calamities and disaster risks, cloud technology bags the top spot in the discussion. Cloud computing is revolutionary when it comes to accessing data and using internet-bound services in a risk-free environment. Cloud servers can be a key resource to share real-time data among groups and individuals via the internet and it can change the symmetry for developing safe practices through information sharing in and around disaster-prone areas. 

Disaster management wings funded by the government can use the cloud-based server facility to develop free-for-access mobile applications to avail life-saving data anytime, anywhere to populations at risk. American Red Cross, for instance, has developed 35 cloud-based mobile applications to provide people with real-time emergency weather and disaster alerts just to take on panic bursting out of catastrophic situations.

Social Media for an Interconnected Global Community

The potential of early warning communications has greatly expanded with the rapid rise in the number of smartphone users and mobile phone applications being developed worldwide. Social media platforms can lead disaster management campaigns while enabling communities. Relevant groups and individuals in the rescue teams can take leverage of interconnected networks for sharing early warning information among them and the distressed ones in the crowd during the time of disastrous circumstances. 

Facebook, for example, developed a natural disaster page during the events of tropical cyclones and hurricanes at the seashores in America — which turned out to be a helping hand for people to check on their loved ones stuck in the mishap. The use of Twitter has been evident for some time as a substantial means to coordinate during disaster relief. “Disaster Response on Facebookâ€, “Donate Now†and other such call-to-action pages and link buttons on social media platforms made a real difference by strengthening communication channels for sharing emergency disaster updates straight off. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) and automated machines are the future. As AI technology continues to advance with the fast-paced data annotation processes, the most difficult-to-conquer situations associated with disaster rescue and response are now addressable. FINDER, if we take a real-world example, is a portable AI-enabled heart sensing device developed by NASA that shows us the real potential of AI for manhandling disaster management and risk relief campaigns. How capable FINDER is was first noticed during the episodes of the earthquake in Nepal in 2015 when it helped saviors recognize and rescue thousands of lives breathing under the bits. 

AI-Enabled Apps & Gadgets for Relief & Rescue Operations

AI-powered image recognition systems backed by biometrics authentication, AdaBoost algorithm, and data labeling techniques can help rescuers identify distressed human souls stuck in floods, destroyed buildings, and damaged roads. Drones, robots, self-driving vehicles, and AI-enabled automated mechanical systems of the same league can help humans prevail in the perishing events of disasters. 

The early warning systems (EWS), which allows accurate weather and disasters forecasting, make use of the same AI technology to peer out predictive analytics for meteorological events. Earlier access to weather and disaster updates can boost response time while accelerating relief & recovery practices. With machines now becoming an intrinsic part of the modern life system, it’s worthwhile to watch how deep AI technology penetrates into human life as a means to the welfare of mankind.

GIS, GPS, and Satellite-based Navigation Systems for Mapping Disaster-Stricken Sites & Souls

Satellite technology has enabled significant improvements in quantifying and combating disaster risks. Early warning systems backed by satellite-powered monitoring and management systems can lead to reduced mortality and damage — as has been demonstrated by several studies. Spreading risk-pertaining awareness and developing preventive measures to mitigate the risks of natural disasters and calamities have got an edge with the introduction of satellite-based geo-information technologies in human life. 

Mapping and locating disaster-stricken souls and sites during fierce natural incidences are now a no-brainer with access to avant-garde navigation systems. Location-based warning systems and tracking technology can help targeted populations communicate information, understand and act appropriately based on the information provided. 

Now that locating, mapping and weather & hazard forecasting have become more accurate and timely with state-of-the-art satellite technologies — GIS, GPS, and satellite-based navigation systems have emerged to be our true saviour in case of disasters. 

Final Thought

While much evidence is already around us, technology can truly be our all means and measures for efficiently managing and effectively monitoring disaster risks. It can lay down a life and resource-saving trajectory for mankind while handing out its aid to every course of calamity, i.e., from prevention to preparedness and response to recovery. 

Though technology is here to taper off our tough times during the disastrous circumstances, embracing preventive measures and damping down the nature-exploiting attitude of mankind will be more sustainable approaches for a safer or at least lesser-disastrous life on earth. 

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