ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION IN NATURAL DISASTERS

International Journal of Innovative Research in Information Security (IJIRIS) ISSN: 2349-7009(P)
Issue 05, Volume 04 (March 2017) SPECIAL ISSUE www.ijiris.com ISSN: 2349-7017(O)
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ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY TO ESTABLISH
COMMUNICATION IN NATURAL DISASTERS
Mr. Vinay B V1
, Mrs. Gauri S Rapate2
, Ms.MaknojiaInsiya3
Assistant Professor 1
, UG Scholar 2,3
Department of Information Science and Engineering,
Vemana Institute of Technology, Bangalore
Abstract- Disaster does not come with prior notice. The term ‘Disaster’ is widely used to refer to as any incident,
manmade accident, or natural occurrence that could affect the functioning of the project. We do not assess the impact
of upcoming disaster. There are two type of disaster Natural and Manmade disaster. Disasters have resentfully affected
not only humans but also animals. Disaster causes mass casualty of construction and loss of economy. It impacts on the
economy of the country. In the last decade, natural disasters claimed 79,000 lives each year and affected more than 200
million people, with casualties amounting to almost US $ 70 billion per year. Disaster also affected the climate, and
hence adversely affecting local or regional climate. Manmade disaster causes through any big accident that occurs
indoor or outdoor.
I. INTRODUCTION
Disaster management is imperative for minimized loss of lives and economy. ‘Disaster management can be defined as
“The organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of
emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters”.
Fig 1.1 Expected effectiveness of disaster management.
Disaster is an event which threatens society with undesired results. It is related with disturbance of normal pattern of life,
negative impact on human life and social structure. It victimizes large number of people and cause social and economic
losses. The International task group appointed by Department of Humanitarian Affairs of United Nations defines disaster as
‘a serious disturbance of the functioning of a society, causing extensive human, material or environmental losses, which
exceed the ability of affected society to cope using only its own resources’. Disasters are marked by the scope of an
emergency. An emergency becomes a disaster when it exceeds the capability of the local resources to manage it. Disasters
often result in huge damage, loss, and destruction. Natural disasters comprises of those unintended events which occur as a
result of natural processes such as earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunami, freezes, blizzards, extreme heat or cold, drought, or
insect infestation.

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Since times immemorial disasters have been occurring in various forms and places and thus posing threat to people,
infrastructure and assets. They have been mankind’s constant though inconvenient companions and continue to occur and
are increase in their magnitude, complexity, frequency and economic impact. The effect of natural disasters in terms of
human and economic losses has increased in recent years, and society has become more vulnerable to natural disasters. In
various parts of the world, disasters caused by natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, drought, wildfires,
tropical cyclones and associated storm surges, tsunami and volcanic eruptions have taken a heavy toll in terms of the loss of
human lives and the shattering of economic and social infrastructure, not to mention the negative effect on already fragile
ecosystems. Man-made disasters comprises of chemical disasters, biological disasters and nuclear disasters. In simple
words disaster can be defined as a hazard causing heavy loss to life, property and livelihood.
ABOUT DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Fig:1.2 Steps involved in disaster management
The disaster management is the span of activities to maintain control over disaster and facilitates a framework to help,
evade or recover from the effect of the disaster. Disaster management comprises of Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness,
Response, Recovery and Rehabilitation. Disaster management incorporate all levels of government. All government,
nongovernmental and community-based organizations play a crucial role in the process. Modern disaster management goes
beyond post-disaster assistance. It now comprises of pre-disaster planning and several activities such as preparedness,
organizational planning, training, information management and public relations.
COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA IN DISASTER MITIGATION
Fig. 1.2 How communication takes pace during disaster recovery.

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Fig:1.3 Role of communication and media in disaster mitigation.
The disasters in India are mostly directed by the government. The central government, state government, district
administration has various roles to play during the disaster situation. Non-government organizations are also becoming
growingly imperative because of the number of functions they can perform in disaster management and mitigation.
Productive and dependable communication is important for disaster reduction. Communication technologies, skills and
media are essential for the various important roles they perform in disaster management. Those roles are:
i. Linking scientists, disaster mitigation officials, and the public
ii. Educating the public about disaster preparedness
iii. Checking approaching hazards
iv. Alerting authority’s
v. Warning the people most likely to be affected
vi. Assessing damages
vii. Collecting information, supplies and other resources
viii. Coordinating resource and relief activities
ix. Accounting missing people
x. Motivating public, political and institutional responses
APPLICATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN NATURAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Fig: 1.4 Application of technology in natural disaster management
Information Technology is changing every aspect of human life. It intensifies the quality and effectiveness of trade,
manufacturing, services, other aspects of human life such as education, research, culture, entertainment, communication,
national security, etc. Disaster management needs serious advancement in its sources to decrease damage and save the life
of people. To attain this objective, disaster management has to face challenges for data collection, data management,
translation integration and communication.

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IT plays very imperative role in this respect. The improved techniques of information technology such as remote sensing,
satellite communication, GIS, etc. can help in planning and implementation of disaster management.
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)
Indian Meteorological Department issue cyclone warnings from the Area Cyclone Warning Centers . It has developed the
necessary infrastructure to originate and disseminate the cyclone warnings at appropriate levels. It has also made
operational a satellite based communication system called Cyclone Warning Dissemination System for direct dissemination
of cyclone warnings to the cyclone susceptible coastal areas. IMD runs operationally a Limitedarea Analysis and Forecast
System, based on an Optimal Interpretation analysis and a limited area Primitive Equation model, to provide numerical
guidance.
National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA)
Long-term drought proofing programs on the natural resources of the district have been extensively helped by the use of
satellite data obtained by NRSA. Satellite data can be taken into account very effectively for mapping and monitoring the
flood-inundated areas, flood damage assessment, flood hazard zoning and past flood survey of river configuration and
protection works.
Seismological Observations
Seismological observations in the country are made through national network of 36 seismic stations operated by the IMD,
which is the nodal agency. Data are collected over a long period.
Warning System for Drought
The National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Management System has been developed by the Department of Space
for the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, and is largly based on monitoring of vegetation status through National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Advanced Very High Resolution data. The drought assessment depends on a
comparative evaluation of satellite observed green vegetation cover of a district in any specific time period, with that of any
similar time period in previous years.
Flood Forecasting
The Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, issues floods forecasts and warnings. These are used for
alerting the public and for taking appropriate measures by concerned administrative and state engineering agencies in the
flood hazard mitigation. Information is gathered from the CWC’s vast network of Forecasting Stations on several rivers in
the country.
Cyclone Tracking
Information on cyclone warnings is furnished on a real-time basis to the control room set up in the Ministry of Agriculture,
Government of India. High power Cyclone Detection Radars (CDRs) that are installed along the coastal belt of India have
proved to be a very helpful tool to the cyclone warning work. These radars can locate and track approaching Tropical
Cyclones within a range of 400 km. Satellite imagery received from weather satellite is extensively used in detecting the
development and movement of Tropical Cyclones over oceanic regions, particularly when they are beyond the range of the
coastal radars. The existing mode of dissemination of cyclone warnings to various government officials is through high
priority telegrams, telephones, telex and fax.
Disaster alert through cell phones
The Ministry of Science and Technology of India has developed the world’s first of its kind multilingual disaster alert
system – National Disaster Information System (NDIS) – that transmit Tsunami and cyclone warning through mobile
phones in the form of SMS, within 30 seconds of a weather satellite or an earthquake observatory giving alert signals. The
SMS alerts will be made in over 100 languages including 14 regional languages like Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali,
Malayalam, Hindi and Oriya. The SMS alerts will be followed by voice alerts on the mobile phones as well as fixed
phones. The NDIS server first receives the warning from the meteorological department alert system before converting it
into an SMS in two seconds. In the next 19 seconds, the software translates the alert into multiple languages. The SMS
reaches the user in 30 seconds.
Satellite Radio Application
Satellite radio can play a key role during both the disaster warning and disaster recovery phases. Its key advantage is the
ability to work even outside of areas not covered by normal radio channels. Satellite radio can also be of help when the
transmission towers of the normal radio channels are damaged in a disaster.
CONCLUSION
Disaster management activities depend on great volumes of accurate, relevant, on-time geo information that various
organizations systematically create and maintain. The advancement in Information and Communication Technology which
comprises of Internet, GIS, Remote Sensing, Satellite communication, etc. can help a great deal in planning and
implementation of hazards reduction schemes. New technologies for public communication must be used and natural
disaster mitigation messages must be conveyed through these measures. GIS can enhance the quality and power of analysis
of natural hazards assessments, guide development activities and assist planners in the selection of mitigation measures and
in the implementation of emergency preparedness and response action.

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Remote Sensing, on the other hand, as a tool can very effectively contribute towards identification of hazardous areas,
monitor the planet for its changes on a real time basis and give early warning to many impending disasters. Communication
satellites have become vital for providing emergency communication and timely relief measures. Integration of space
technology inputs into natural disaster monitoring and mitigation mechanisms is critical for hazard reduction. Awareness
and training in Information technology in a much greater measure is required to develop human resources. There has to be
a greater emphasis on development of new technologies in disaster mitigation. The disaster preparedness and awareness is
the only effective way of mitigating the impact of future disasters.
REFERENCES
1. Government of India, ‘ Disaster management in India’, A status report, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, 2004.
2. United Nations Development Program, ‘ICT in Disaster Management’, http://www.apdip.net/apdipenote/16.pdf,
accessed on September 20, 2014
3. Joshi I., ‘Planning for earthquake Preparedness in TehriGarwal District’ (unpub. MURP thesis), Dept of Architecture
and Planning, I.I.T Roorkee, 2002.
4. Gupta, A., 2000, ‘Information Technology and Natural Disaster Management in India’,
http://www.gisdevelopment.net/aars/acrs/2000/ts8/hami0001.html, accessed September 10, 2010.
5. Hodges A., ‘ Information Technology and Disaster Management: Issues for the next decade’,
http://desastres.usac.edu.gt/documentos/pdf/eng/doc12092.

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