Page 25 - Risk Management Bulletin Jan- Mar 2021

RMAI BULLETIN JANUARY TO MARCH 2021

During the 1999 Odisha floods, the Odisha State Disaster analyzing risks, modelling and designing mitigation
Management Authority utilized GIS-based satellite-based projects, and communicating up-to-date information
remote sensing technology for effective management. with other departments to build resilience at all levels.
GIS technology assisted in different phases of the disaster Response: GIS provides powerful mapping and
management cycle; starting from identifying locations to analytics capability to respond to catastrophic events.
construct multipurpose flood shelters and weak points in It provides advanced tools that maintain situational
the embankments to initiate repair. This followed by and operational awareness; quickly analyze the
strengthening and preparedness efforts and grid analysis incident impact; assess the damage; deploy resources;
to set up the Automated Weather Stations (AWS). The and educate, inform, and warn citizens. With GIS tools,
process also involved developing district and gram authorities can get access to emergency unit locations,
panchayat level vulnerability maps and base maps shelter population capacities, supply inventories,
indicating the location and operation of boats and power, identify locations of public safety resources,
deployment of rescue personnel. and status of the overall situation.
There is a life cycle to any crisis or disaster. Following To map and monitor the spread of Corona Virus Disease
the response, the phase is an opportunity to build 2019 (COVID-19) cases, the Bruhat Bengaluru
resilience. Integrating GIS into the disaster Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) set up a war room that
management response framework improves the integrates GIS technology. GIS-based maps, apps, and
planning process. It allows users to understand the dashboards displayed real-time data about hospital
impact of potential damage and further anticipate capacity, ICU beds, ventilators, and date; zone; hospital;
resource utilization during the emergency. Front-line age; and gender-wise details daily. The officials directly
departments get access to real-time information to received access to real-time data from health and police
rapidly monitor the changing situations and further departments for situational analysis, actionable insights,
share up-to-date information with the public and other and to further impart information to citizens.
departments. GIS-based dashboards and live maps
Recovery: GIS assists in recovery efforts by restoring
provide authoritative data that allows departments to the affected area to normal. This includes making
make informed decisions. Response to disaster and
emergencies involve the following stages: decisions that address short-term and long-term
requirements; such as medical care, shelter, food,
Prevention: A successful prevention plan involves rebuilding, reemployment, and the repair of essential
comprehensive planning and analysis to minimize the infrastructure. GIS also plays an important role in the
effects, reduce loss, and a proactive approach to the assessment of damage and losses to further identify
plan. GIS technology provides the capability to map priorities for reconstruction and determine actions for
and analyze all types of hazards to visualize potential various field operations such as first aid and health,
impacts. Based on the inputs of impact on transportation routes.
infrastructure and population, vulnerabilities can be
Building resilience through better awareness and
identified to establish priorities.
preparedness is the need of the hour. Adopting to crisis
The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring management life cycle framework boosts efforts
Centre (KSNDMC)uses a GIS dashboard to monitor the towards prevention for what comes next. At a time
rainfall across the state, on a real-time basis, from the when every second counts, understanding and
data shared by rain sensors installed at various decoding the "where" factor is key to prevention,
locations. The live data captured is used to predict any preparedness, response, and recovery.
potential flooding incidents due to heavy rainfall, GIS plays a vital role in addressing risk scenarios;
identify affected locations, and push advisories through
however, its widespread adoption in emergency
SMS to be potentially impacted areas.
operations needs to be fully accelerated to ensure the
Preparedness: Authorities develop action plans as an disasters of the future are less catastrophic. With the
effective response to an emergency. With GIS utilization of GIS technology fostering risk analysis,
interactive maps, authorities view critical information planning, situational awareness, recovery operations,
in layers and make data-driven informed decisions. GIS and enhanced collaboration, disaster response will
supports preparedness through a disaster continue to improve and ultimately provide a better
management system that involves visualizing and and safer environment for people. (Source : India TV)

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