Localised DSS, Common Access Protocol: Keys For Disaster Communication

‘Decision Support Systems’ and ‘Common Access Protocols’ are keys for institutionalising Disaster Communication recommended the experts participating in the ‘Early Warning and Disaster Management Communication’ session in the Second India Disaster Management Congress, which concluded recently at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The congress had experts and speakers from across the world presenting technology innovation, experience and action research on disaster management.

The session was co-organised by ekgaon technologies, a New Delhi-based IT service provider and the National Institute of Disaster Management. The session was chaired by director general, India Metrological Department (IMD), AVM Dr Ajit Tyagi and co-chaired by Rohit Magotra, chief operating officer, ekgaon technologies. Dr Tyagi highlighted the role of IMD in provision of early warning communication and shared strategies of IMD for early warning of tropical cyclones to maximise the relevance and effectiveness for India and to mitigate loss.

The session also brought into focus the relevance and importance of mobile phones in disaster communication, which included experiences in use of cell broadcast and voice-based SMS services. Experiences and innovations in rapidly deployable communication systems for disaster management and communication support for disasters were shared by speakers in the session. Case studies on the role of social networks and their increased relevance for disaster management were discussed by participants, and emerged an important area of social communication action research.

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Magotra emphasised that decision support systems that are localised and based on localised hazard mapping are of prime importance for effective disaster communication and disaster response. There is a broad gap between capacities of local communities to interpret early warning provided by scientific institutions, which needs to be bridged through capacity building, development of comprehensible communication products and evolving Common Access Protocols (CAPs) to ensure standardisation and clear understanding by the user community.

Magotra emphasised that technology interfaces across hardware and software should enable both asynchronous and synchronous data transmission to ensure cross-system relay both by ‘push’ as well as ‘pull’ mechanisms in comprehensible forms and languages for effective disaster communication.

The role of technology, policy and institutions is to enable this facilitation for building ‘alive’ communication systems. Policy level changes required for increased sharing of information between South Asian countries were also brought into focus as disaster knows no boundaries and the region shares geo-demographic context, which exposes its populations to similar hazard risks.

The session recommendations further included setting up dedicated TV and radio channels for disaster information, evolving common access protocols for better adaptation and effective disaster response.