Center for Study of Science Technology and Policy 1

Role of ICT in Emergency and Disaster Management

Eswaran Subrahmanian

Center for Study of Science Technology and Policy

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A Framework for Support

Technology

InstitutionsPolicy &Practices

EMSDecision support

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Features of a EMS Support systems

• Harmonization between the human systems and technology systems

• On demand single control and command system – a priori assignment of responsibilities

• Information gathering and presentation systems• Information flow channels throughout the hierarchy of command control

• Flow of informal information from crowd sourcing (mobile phone SMS, pictures and streaming video)

• Training and awareness support

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Impediments to use of ICT in Indian context

• There exists no clear authority or command and control system (multiple lines of command)

• NDMA procedures call for features but have no implementation plan• Lack of information on asset availability and location• Lack of assets to address the needs of an urban environment (not enough 

equipment)• lack of enforcement of safety codes in building and places of work• Poor public behavior with respect to understanding of public good (cars do 

not give way to emergency vehicles)• Poor training of personnel and transfer of experience• Lack of  training in Emergency and trauma management (the first PG 

degree in Emergency and trauma management just initiated)

Institutional design and policies are available on paper but none has been tested or implemented

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Current practice in Indian Cities

• Very ad‐hoc command and control• Situation assessment is very poor _ Mumbai• Very poor control of media• Public lack of faith in institutions lead to people taking help effort in their own hands

• Crowding the emergency scene leading to lack of access

• Ability to react is impeded by lack of information and required assets

• Urban planning does not account for emergency and disaster management

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Where do we begin?

• A systematic design and integration of policies and practices with institutional command and control structures and technology

• NDMA has created document with guidelines for integrating Central and state institutions –start.

• Tools for traffic planning and public education• Information gathering before, during and after the disaster

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Data and Information management

• Geospatial information of the area (city, rural area)

• GIS based location of police personnel and other security assets including paramilitray and military service units in real time

• GIS Based information assets – Fire, hospital and safe places.

• 3D images of important buildings, sites and blue prints of the layout including available fir‐extinguishers, stairs, first aid equipment.

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Data and Information management 

• Potential collection of information from the public at site (SMA, Photographs, streaming video) 

• Information dissemination to the required personnel and instructions

• Interoperable communication systems

• Media based information dissemination and control

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Data and information for training and postmortem analysis

• Prior incidents and responses case histories and studies of practices.

• Data on failure modes  at the institutions, technology, practice and policy

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Information analysis

• Analysis center to co‐ordinate and disseminate

quality information and potential prediction of continued threats

• Quick situation assessment for graduated action

• Traffic patterns, control points and alternate routes for evacuation and service provision

• What if analysis and Emergency gaming for  for possible decision outcomes

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Designing the EMS

• A participatory approach with all the relevant parties and experienced personnel including psychologists and sociologists

• Importance to human element in the decision making and integration of appropriate technology

• Abandoning technological determinism• A clearly defined  information flow, management, analysis, dissemination and control

• Training support through past cases and potential cases.

• Checklist based approach to systematic situation awareness and response

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Where are we at CSTEP

• Our first goal is to educate on the technological possibilities for EMS

• Build partnerships with the City administration, NDMA, Defense and Emergency medical authorities

• An inititial prototype of some of the features– Crowd simulation and management– Movement of emergency vehicles– 3D images of the disaster area and navigation– Standards for storing building layout information– Integration of information and interaction design

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Living Lab Platform

APPCD

Exercise Group

Simulation

Staff

Scenarios

Connectivity

Sensors & Information

Evaluation

Logging

KPI’s

Feedback

ModularInfrastructure

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Response phase, problem type and technologyProblem types Phase of Response Technology/approach Development of distortion free wide area sensors

Pre response SSNRC development

Development of sampling area Pre response Simulation, Modeling through GIS (CSTEP development)

To Be Implemented Identification and analysis of raw data streams

Pre, during and post response

Sensor development/fusion methods

Training supported by virtual training

Pre-response Simulation, collaboration and gaming

Mapping of data and analysis – Exchange of data between different groups for co-ordination

Pre and during response

Information roundabout for a common view of the disaster space, people and vehicular movement

Resource allocation and asset management

Pre response GIS based location of sensors, resources and movement paths – GIS and path algorithms

Logistics and mobility of response teams and required equipment

During reponse Mesh networks + GIS/RFID/sensors/Cell phones/SMS to identify and tracking of vehicles and equipment

Re-design for a resilient supply-chain webs for risk mitigation

Pre response Food, shelter and other supply chain modeling for failure points

Integrated planning of response, assets and threats

Pre-response Scaled simulation, modeling and gaming for training and evaluation of work processes

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Technology driven ease of implementation chart

Proven Experimental

1.a. LED-CCTV-Battery Unit (lane –definition and provision of visual data to enable a quick construction of SA and swift first response)b. GIS-integration (and provision of maps via Google for those services that do not have proprietary GIS systems but do have internet access)c. Work-flow mgt-systems for resilient supply webs

2.a. Audio and SMS alerts to facilitate crowd-movementsb. Training for visual cues of deviant conditions in sensitive areasc. Post Incident Identification of safe-places (to feed 2a and a link to 3b .)d. Simulation model to support coordination and training (input and tool for 2b and 2c and also to support the training in coordination)

4.a. Information Roundaboutb. Voice Interoperabilityc. Dashboard or Cockpit definition to support: collaboration and communication that fuel the emergence of coordination

3.a. Simulation to support Crowd-management (formulation, implementation, appraisal/evaluation)b. ISO-PHYS (3D-modeling of physical objects to enable the design and planning of a safety and security system)Ad-Hoc mesh networks

Simple

Complex

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Key Issues

• Acquisition and Integration of Sensing Systems

• Tools for interpretation and fusion of sensors (e.g. GIS)

• Visualization of information

• Information dissemination to public / relief teams

• Institutional arrangements for rescue and relief operations

• Contingency plans for early recovery and continuation of operations in the event of any emergency 

• Instant Infrastructure, Supply Chains and Instant Command Systems

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Some samples of the work

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Crowd movement simulation ‐Bangalore: An early prototype

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Crowd simulation

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The CSTEP team

• Computer scientists

• Public policy 

• Military personnel with experience in terrorism

• An ex‐Police Director general

• Animators

• Interaction designers

• Emergency and trauma medicine experts

• Sociologists and psychologists to be included

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The hard congested road ahead

• Aligning technology, policies, practices and institutions– Institutional design

– Alignment of practice and policy

– Technology plan and analysis

– Public education

– Training, training and training