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Information Technology For Disaster PDF
Information Technology For Disaster PDF
brought in a significant positive change even cover large area at one time to give a synoptic
though the multitude and frequency of disasters in view. Remote sensing comprises Aerial Remote
the country has increased. Sensing which is the process of recording
information, such as photographs and images from
APPLICATION OF INFORMATION sensor on aircrafts and Satellite Remote Sensing
TECHNOLOGY IN DISASTER which consists of several satellite remote sensing
MANAGEMENT system which can be used to integrate natural
hazard assessments into development planning
Though it is not possible to completely avoid the studies. These are: Land sat, SPOT Satellite,
natural disasters, but the sufferings can be Satellite Radar System, Advanced Very High
minimized by creating proper awareness of the Resolution Radio. Some applications of GIS and
likely disasters and its impact by developing a Remote Sensing in various disasters are as
suitable warning system, disaster preparedness and follows:-
management of disasters through application of
information technology tools. The changing trends (A)DROUGHT
have opened up a large number of scientific and
technological resources and skills to reduce GIS and Remote Sensing can be used in drought
disaster risk. relief management such as early warnings of
There are mainly applications we can use to drought conditions will help to plan out the
manage disasters: strategies to organize relief work. Satellite data
1) GIS and Remote Sensing may be used to target potential ground water sites
2) Internet for taking up well-digging programmers. Satellite
data provides valuable tools for evaluating areas
subject to desertification. Film transparencies,
GIS AND REMOTE SENSING
photographs and digital data can be used for the
purpose of locating, assessing and monitoring
GIS provides a tool for effective and efficient deterioration of natural conditions in a given area.
storage and manipulation of remotely sensed data
and other spatial and non-spatial data types for
(B)EARTHQUAKE
both scientific management and policy oriented
information. This can be used to facilitate
measurement, mapping, monitoring and modelling GIS and Remote Sensing can be used for preparing
of variety of data types related to natural seismic hazards maps in order to assess the exact
phenomenon. The specific GIS application in the nature of risks.
field of Risk Assessment are:- Hazard Mapping to
show earthquake, landslides, floods or fire hazards. (C)FLOODS
Theses map could be created for cities, districts or
even for the entire country and tropical cyclone Satellite data can be effectively used for mapping
Threat Maps are used by meteorological and monitoring the flood inundated areas, flood
departments to improve the quality of the tropical damage assessment, flood hazard zoning and post-
storm warning services and quickly communicate flood survey of rivers configuration and protection
the risk to the people likely to get affected by the works.
cyclone.
Remote sensing makes observation of any (D)LANDSLIDES
object from a distance and without coming into
actual contact. Remote sensing can gather data Landslide zonation map comprise a map
much faster than ground based observation, can demarcating the stretches or area of varying degree
of anticipated slope stability or instability. The map Cyclone Warning Centers (ACWCs) It has
has an inbuilt element of forecasting and is hence developed the necessary infrastructure to originate
of probabilistic nature. Depending upon the and disseminate the cyclone warnings at
methodology adopted and the comprehensiveness appropriate levels. It has made operational a
of the input data used, a landslide hazard zonation satellite based communication system called
map able to provide help concerning location,- Cyclone Warning Dissemination System for direct
extent of the slop area likely to be affected, and dissemination of cyclone warnings to the cyclone
rate of mass movement of the slope mass. prone coastal areas. IMD runs operationally a
Limited-area Analysis and Forecast System
(E)SEARCH AND RESCUE (LAFS), based on an Optimal Interpretation (OI)
analysis and a limited area Primitive Equation (PE)
GIS can be used in carrying out search and rescue model, to provide numerical guidance.
operations in a more effective manner by
identifying areas that are disasters prone and 2 NATIONAL REMOTE SENSING
zoning them accordingly to risk magnitudes. AGENCY(NRSA)
WARNING AND FORECASTING SYSTEM The National Agricultural Drought Assessment and
An advance system of forecasting, monitoring and Management System (NADAMS) has been
issuing early warnings plays the most significant developed by the Department of Space for the
role in determining whether a natural hazard will Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, and is
assume disastrous proportions or not. The country primarily based on monitoring of vegetation status
have the following forecasting systems: through National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Advanced Very High
1 INDIAN METEOROLOGICAL Resolution (AVHR) data. The drought assessment
DEPARTMENT (IMD) is based on a comparative evaluation of satellite
observed green vegetation cover (both area and
IMD provides cyclone warnings from the Area greenness) of a district in any specific time period,
with that of any similar period in previous years. rehabilitation measures .This enable the states to
manage and provide for calamity relief on their
5 Flood Forecasting own by drawing upon the resources available with
a fund constituted for that purpose separately for
Flood forecasts and warnings are issued by the each state. In addition to CRF, a National Fund for
Central Water Commission (CWC) , Ministry of Calamity Relief (NFCR) has been created to deal
Water Resources. These are used for alerting the with hazards of rare severity managed by a
public and for taking appropriate measures by National Calamity Relief Committee (NCRC). The
concerned administrative and state engineering State Governments are required to submit
agencies in the flood hazard mitigation. memoranda for this purpose giving details of
Information is gathered from the CWC's vast damage and destruction and the cost of relief and
network of Forecasting Stations on various rivers rehabilitation. On receipt of these memoranda, the
in the country. Government of India decides on an individual basis
whether a Central Team is required to be deputed
6 CYCLONE TRACKING to assess the situation.
There is a State Crisis Management Group India having a federal structure the integrated
(SCMC) under the Chairmanship of Chief disaster management mechanism exists within the
Secretary/Relief Commissioner to take into government framework.
consideration the infrastructure and guidance
received, from time to time, from Government of
India and formulate action plans for dealing with CONCLUSION
different natural disasters.There is a State Level
Control Room set up whenever a disaster situation It may be observed that advancement in
develops. Information Technology in the form of Internet,
GIS, Remote Sensing, Satellite communication,
States are further divided into districts, each etc. can help a great deal in planning and
headed by the District Collector (also known as the implementation of hazards reduction. For
District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner), who maximum benefit, new technologies for public
is the focal point at the district level for directing, communication should be made use and natural
supervising and monitoring relief measures for disaster mitigation messages should be conveyed
disaster and for preparation of district level plans. through these measures. GIS can improve the
The Collector exercises coordinating and quality and power of analysis of natural hazards
supervisory powers over functionaries of all the assessments, guide development activities and
departments at the District level. The relief assist planners in the selection of mitigation
measures are reviewed by the District Relief measures and in the implementation of emergency
Committee consisting of official and no-official preparedness and response action. Remote Sensing,
members, including local legislators and members on the other hand, as a tool can very effectively
of parliament. In the wake of Natural disasters, a contribute towards identification of hazardous
Control Room is set up in the District for day-to- areas, monitor the planet for its changes on a real
day monitoring of the rescue and relief operations time basis and give early warning to many
on a continuing basis. impending disasters.Communication satellites have
become vital for providing emergency
The Collector/Deputy Commissioner maintains communication and timely relief measures.
close liaison with the Central Government Integration of space technology inputs into natural
authorities in the districts, namely, Army, Air disaster monitoring and mitigation mechanisms is
Force an Navy, Ministry of Water Resources, etc., critical for hazard reduction. It is absolutely
who supplement the effort of the District necessary to create awareness amongst the public
Administration in the rescue and relief as well as decision makers for allocating resources
operation.They also co-ordinates all voluntary for appropriate investments in information
efforts by mobilising the non-government technology. Awareness and training in Information
organisations capable of working in such technology in a much grater measure is required to
situations. develop human resources, particularly in the
developing countries, who are chronically suffer
The armed forces of the country have played a vital from natural disasters.
role during disaster emergencies providing prompt The disasters usually occur in the well-defined
relief to the victims even in the most inaccessible areas, even though the community does not know
and remote areas of the country. The organisational the coping mechanism for the disaster. The disaster
strength of the armed forces with their disciplined mitigation programmes must be extensively taken
and systematised approach, and with their skills in up covering various aspects at national level to
technical and human resource management make minimise the disaster damages. There should be a
them indispensable for such emergency situations. greater emphasis on development of new
technologies in disaster mitigation. The disaster
preparedness and awareness is the only effective • Mandal, G. S. (1999), Forecasting and
way of mitigating the impact of future disasters. Warning Systems for Cyclones in India,
Shelter, October, 1999, pp. 24-26.
REFERENCES
• Sinha, Anil (1999), Relief Administration
• Sinha, Anil & Sharma, Vinod K.,
and Capacity Building for Coping
(1999),Culture of Prevention, Government
Mechanism towards Disaster Reduction,
of India, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural
Disaster Management Division, New Delhi. Shelter, October, 1999, pp. 9-12.