ROLE OF ICT FOR DISASTER REDUCTION

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ROLE OF ICT FOR DISASTER REDUCTION

• ICT in Pre-Disaster Awareness and Preparedness

Dr. Arnon Tubtiang
Voice Chair , APEC TEL
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Outline

• Overview Risk of Disasters,
• ICT Collaboration,
• Collaboration within APEC and APEC TEL,
• Recommendations.

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• Overview Risk of Disasters

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Type of Natural Disasters
Cyclones
Volcanoes
Earthquakes
Tsunamis
Tornadoes
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Possible Risks

• Inexperienced/Uneducated on sign of disaster,
• No critical support service,
• No early warning system,
• Human error,
• Technical error.

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Tsunamis
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Tsunamis (cont.)
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Tsunami on Dec 26, 2004 (Effected Areas)
Source http//www.tsunamithai.com
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Tsunami on Dec 26, 2004 (Effected Areas)(cont.)
Dec 26 , 2004 13.35
Dec 26 , 2004 10.35
Dec 22 , 2004 11.00
Source http//www.tsunamithai.com
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• ICT Collaboration

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ICT in every aspect

• Information sharing,
• Standardize requirements for information so
  that data can be integrated,
• Develop regional standards in information,
• Rescue Operations and Coordination,
• Facilitate interoperability of information
  systems to facilitate transfer and quick sharing
  of information,
• Strengthen communication channels (Ex
  telecommunication infrastructure/equipment
  satellite, wireless, etc ).

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Role of ICT How does it Matter ?

• Before disaster Early warning system,
  Evacuate people to the safe place,
• After disaster Relief from the impact (Ex
  Information
  gathering, reconnect to the world --
  wireless, satellite ,etc. ),
• So ICT can play an important role to facilitate
  exchange of data and information, and disaster
  management in the region.

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National and International Collaboration -
Pacific Region

• US
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  (NOAA http//www.noaa.gov)
• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC
  http//www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc)
• Japan
• Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA
  http//www.jma.go.jp/JMA_HP/jma/indexe.html)
• Australia
• Australian-Pacific Centre for Emergency and
  Disaster Information
• (APCEDI http//www.afap.org/apcedi)
• Pacific Disaster Center
• (PDC http//www.pdc.org)
• International Tsunami Information Center
  (ITIC http//www.prh.noaa.gov/itic/more_about/i
  tic/itic.html)

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Plan for Collaboration-Indian Ocean

• Thailand proposed hosting a regional center as
  part of the system, in conjunction with
  existing Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
  (ADPC),
• UNs Intergovernment Oceanographic Commission
  (IOC) will hold its 1st regional coordination
  meeting on 3-8 March 2005.

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• Collaboration within APEC and APEC TEL

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About APEC

• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is
  the premier forum for facilitating economic
  growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the
  Asia-Pacific region,
• APEC has 21 members - referred to as "Member
  Economies" - which account for more than a third
  of the world's population (2.6 billion people),
  approximately 60 of world GDP (US19, 254
  billion) and about 47 of world trade. It also
  proudly represents the most economically dynamic
  region in the world having generated nearly 70
  of global economic growth in its first 10 years.

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APEC Members
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About APEC TEL WG
APEC Telecommunications Information Working
Group (APEC TEL WG), one of the eleven APEC
expert groups, aims at

• improving the telecommunications and information
  infrastructure in the region,
• developing and implementing appropriate
  telecommunications and information policies,
  including relevant human resource and development
  cooperation strategies,
• facilitating effective cooperation, free trade
  and investment and sustainable development.

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Role of APEC

• Encourage members to participate in global relief
  activities,
• Ways to help economies prepare for future
  disasters including a review of the effective
  early warning system in the region,
• Collaborate with the business sector.

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Role of APEC TEL

• Encourage to develop ICT infrastructure and
  application to support the implementation of
  early warning system in the region,
• Encourage the discussion on the role of ICT in
  disaster reduction and preparedness in the APEC
  TELs bi-annual meeting agenda,
• Collaborate with other international fora (ex
  APT).

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• Recommendations

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Disaster Management Recommendations

• Create ICT to collaborate committees in the
  region,
• Develop secure and reliable information and
  communication infrastructure,
• Establish emergency telecommunication network to
  help people in effected areas,
• Educate people (include evacuate plan)
• Coordinate and Collaborate within the region.

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Conclusion

• ICT has the key roles in disaster awareness,
  preparedness and mitigation,
• We cannot get the best from any hi-tech system
  without national, regional and international
  collaboration,
• Educate people on awareness and preparedness.

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• Thank You