Role of Information Communication Technology ICT

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Role of Information Communication Technology ICT

• Dr.Alaaedin Benismail
• M.B.Ch.B
• Msc Telemedicine and ehealth systems

2
Agenda

• Introduction
• Disaster effect on communication
• ICT Role
• ICT Equipment
• Spear project

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Introduction

• Definition of ICT
• Information and communication technology
  comprises artifacts for the collection, storage,
  dissemination and manipulation of data.

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Disaster effect on communication

• During the course of many recent disasters ICT
  infrastructure of affected areas sustained
  extensive damages due to lack of robustness.
• After 2004 hurricane, in Jamaica although the
  telecommunication infrastructure remained
  relatively intact, satisfactory internet
  connectivity wasnt restored until about 6-7 days
  later

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National ICT Role
National and regional ICT infrastructure, which
plays a critical role in transmitting information
and facilitating communication, faces no greater
test than in an emergency situation where lives
are at risk. Under disaster conditions,
communications equipment, comes under stress and
are subject to failure. This requires that the
providers of national and regional ICT
infrastructure take the principles of redundancy
and reliability into account when designing their
networks.
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National ICT Role

• Redundancy, there should be multiple independent
  methods of communication available to assure that
  if there is a failure, other means of
  communication are available
• Reliability, Communications equipment should be
  able to function normally under severe conditions
  by setting design parameters that are suitable
  for the our environment.
• Introducing improved levels of equipment
  reliability would in some manner also reduce the
  need for alternative networks and reduce the
  cost of providing full system redundancy.
• Having good and regular maintenance routines for
  the telecommunications networks also improves
  reliability this is particularly true for
  outside plant and other
• transmission facilities.

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ICT Role

• Preparedness
• Creation of a National disaster Database for
  hazards and risks (e.g. factories and oil
  refineries )
• Mapping of specific potential disaster locations
• 1- Global Positioning System (GPS)
• 2- Rader Imaging
• 3- Optical Imaging
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
• Developing an inventory of existing disaster
  response capacities and resources

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ICT Role

• Assist in Regular simulation exercises
• Improvements in Regional and National ICT
  infrastructures and Applications for disaster
  mitigation and responsiveness.

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Emergency ICT Equipment
Emergency ICT Equip
Computer and Digital recording
Emergency Telecommunication
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Rugged Laptops
Relief teams, should be equipped with military
grade or near military grade rugged laptops
capable of functioning in harsh environmental
conditions
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Emergency ICT Equipment
Emergency Telecommunication
Satellite
Radio
HF
Satellite Phones
VHF
Satellite modems
UHF
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Satellite Phones
Satellite Phones offers, integrated satellite,
GSM and GPS services Which makes them valuable
tool initial response and establishing control
centers
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Satellite Communication Systems
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Satellite Communication Systems

• Instant broadband connectivity
• Broadband Global Area Network services
• This technology offer broadband data and
  simultaneous voice, thus enabling field workers
  to communicate in disaster areas with
  headquarters
• In disaster relief situations. It restores
  essential communications immediately, enabling
  the effective co-ordination of relief efforts
  when regular communication lines are down
  improving response times, which could ultimately
  save lives
• In Field Equipment
• Satellite terminal
• Voice or VoIP handsets
• Laptop (MAC or PC) or PDAs
• Webcams / handheld cameras
• Power Source

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Satellite Communication Systems

• Application in Disaster situation
• Broadband mobile telecoms centre in disaster
  situations enabling co-ordination of relief
  efforts when regular communications are disrupted
  
• Voice and high-speed data access to regional
  office networks for bespoke and standard office
  applications telephony (circuit-switched or
  VoIP), email, internet, VPN, videoconferencing,
  large file transfer, fax
• Recording live video footage from disaster-hit
  areas
• Send and receive status reports, photos and
  video footage, and carry out standard
  administrative tasks
• Welfare communications for local population

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Disaster ICT Projects

• Spears
• This project is devoted toward to development a
  context aware (data and voice) service platform
  enabled by advanced wireless networking
  technology.
• The SPEARS platform acts as a test environment
  for services and technological developments
• The architecture of the platform can be tailored
  to the required situation (e.g.fire brigades).

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Keep it Running

• Since some of the ICT equipment are not used on
  day to day basis, training and familiarity with
  the equipment becomes very import and will pay
  off during an actual deployment

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Thank You For Your Attention

• Questions