Essay on "Technology in Disaster Management"

Essay 7 pages (2028 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

technologies in Disaster Management

The advances in human civilization and their effect on nature have made disaster management an essential component of plans created by government and private agencies. Well directed disaster management procedures have the potential of diminishing human affliction and any significant harm to natural and artificial habitats. The extent to which these measures are implemented depends upon the leaders. Earthquakes, volcanoes and hurricanes are forces of nature which cannot be controlled. Adequate preparation with regards to enhancing efficient warning mechanisms, applying updates on construction techniques for dwellings and dealing with panic can be organized using technology. The human knowledge of natural disasters has increased significantly over the past few decades. This has allowed organizations to track them down and set up explicit plans (United Nations, n.d.).

Mechanisms of emergency and disaster management in recent years are almost completely dependent on technology. Emergency management deals with seeking out ways to steer clear of possible dangers. If a disaster were to happen, it ensures that the societal standing is reinstated back to normal as early as feasible. It is a responsibility shared equally amongst the residents living in that society and the government making the decisions. It is directed towards safeguarding the environment, defending personal and public assets, stabilizing the economy and saving lives. Emergency management systems (EMS) are means of technological assistance which facilitate in easing the disaster handling process. They take care of planning the evacuation of people residing in the areas affected by the disaster. They are assisted in getting connected to closest shelters and learning shelter etiquettes. They seek out and educate the available manpower with skills required at the time of crisis. Stocking up storehouses is an essential part of dealing with repercussions of natural or man-made disasters. EMS's make sure that there are enough sources available for the survivors to sustain, before facilities from other countries come into action (VUSSC, n.d.)

Disasters are prioritized based on the ability of available resources to mitigate them. Emergencies transition into disasters when they go beyond that point of control. Such situations usually involve human fatalities, direct influence over a colony of people and the need to invoke international support. Effectual disaster management requires crucial decision making and immediate action. In developing nations, its workability is confined within their political and social structure making it hard to implement them easily. This causes the local leaders to get overpowered by any large scale disaster, limiting the use of any resources they might have. One of the tools in extensive use nowadays is termed Geographic Information System or GIS. It utilizes geographical characteristics along with available data to plot solutions for real world issues. Every piece of information is associated to some location of the earth. In simplest terms GIS can be related to computerized cartography. It allows relevant information to be accessible while answering any chronological questions which might come up. The technological need for disaster management relies on means such as electronic mails for sending critical information, document sharing across machines connected over a network and access to crucial databases. GIS databases can be used to send an update about the availability of resources to the assigned personnel (VUSSC, n.d.)

ArcGIS (a collection of GIS products produced by ESRI), ArcIMS (a web map server by ESRI) and ASP domains have been used to devise an emergency management mechanism accessible over the web. Nuclear power plants have multiple authorities scrutinizing their activities but they can never completely eliminate the chances of an accident. Any Leakage of radiation needs to be notified in the form of alerts or emergencies. NuclearPlanner is one such web-based GIS tool which safeguards the people residing within 10 miles of the plant. Technology has brought on a distinct shift in how products are manufactured and used. A large portion of the synthetic materials in use nowadays have dangerous chemical ingredients. Any kind of leakage can result in major chemical disasters such as the one experienced by Bhopal, India in 1984 where fumes of poisonous Methyl Isocyanate killed over 1400 people. Tier II Manager is one of the web-based GIS tools equipped to handle chemical mishaps. It simplifies chemical inventory meetings. Web-based forms allow storage departments to register the details of whatever they stock up (Selvavinayagam, n.d.).

The internet is a blessing when it comes to communication across nations or disaster management organizations. A warning about a possible natural disaster sent to the correct authority can help initiate precautionary measures and save a lot of lives. Proposals such as Global Disaster Information Network or GDIN have proven the importance of critical information related to disasters. GDIN aims to "provide the right information, in the right format, to the right person, in the right time, to make the right decision"(GDIN, 2005). Global positioning system or GPS is another technological necessity applicable to disaster management. Originally developed by the United States Department of Defense, it consists of 24 satellites which allow people to identify their exact location on earth. It is operational, even in extreme weather conditions and can be connected with GIS to track actions in real time. For instance GPS equipment can be fixed onto vehicles in order to follow their path on a map. Buoys containing GPS mechanisms can detect changes in wave activity, generating warnings for possible tsunamis. Land movements can be perceived using GPS systems allowing experienced personnel to deduce the chances of earthquakes or volcanoes (Selvavinayagam, n.d.).

Remote sensing is another technology which has been widely used in preparing for disasters. It incorporates electromagnetic radiations (EMR's) to obtain information about an entity without the need for physical contact. EMR's have the property of producing distinct effects on coming in contact with matter. While they are the primary form of remote sensing data, magnetic fields or gravity can be used as well. When seen from a disaster management perspective, remote sensing equipment implies antennas attached to satellites of airplanes. Remote sensing is categorized based on wavelength. The three types are visible & reflective infrared, thermal infrared and microwave remote sensing. The information retrieved using these are aligned to those available from other sources to obtain a complete understanding of any unstable activity (VUSSC, n.d.)

Floods are natural hazards capable of disrupting human life within hours. Remote sensing can be applied to observe the condition of flood affected areas without making someone risk their own safety. Topological features of regions vulnerable to floods can be studied to assess the chances of flash floods. Flood mapping by satellite images combined with probability measures noted down using remote sensing improves planning and hastens rescue operations. Hurricanes in all forms can be devastating. The advent of remote sensing allows tracking equipment to reach its center and collect crucial information. Coastal floods along with reoccurring storms usually accompany most hurricanes and can be identified by remote sensing. Earthquakes have the potential of destroying human habitations beyond repair. Advanced remote sensing tools (like LandSat) can point out the expected risks for people residing along fault lines and allow them to move while there is still time. Every minute after the earthquake is crucial as the wreckage might have survivors trapped underneath. The lack of visibility and dangers associated with the aftermath of earthquake makes remote sensing an important component of search operations (VUSSC, n.d.)

Unstable seismic activities leading to volcanoes make it practically impossible for humans to conduct studies effectively. Remote sensing allows the regular tracking of volcanic activities keeping physical presence at the site to a minimum. Landslides are common side effects of hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. Abrupt land movement of weak areas cut off their connectivity from the mainland. Remote sensing help rescue workers by presenting images of inaccessible regions affected by mudslides or accumulation of debris and let them decide on the next line of action (VUSSC, n.d.)

The advantages of technology have been exploited for several wrong reasons as well. Terrorist organizations have been using the internet to distribute false information, seek out potential members, implore funds for their missions, sustain regular communication lines between representatives in different nations and establish virtual meetings with leaders to organize attacks. The ease of online anonymity allows Terrorist groups to join forces and educate each other on illegal and dangerous activities such as the making of explosives. The internet makes the broadcast of extremist activities effortless and allows it reach all corners of the world within minutes. Terrorist websites have increased significantly over the past decade. They portray the viewpoints of jihadist leaders towards the west. These websites are aimed at brainwashing the vulnerable public and making their minds attuned to violent behavior. Kids are being exposed and encouraged to play video games which simulate killing American soldiers (Wright, 2008).

Forums have been set up which promote and discuss the idea of how the United States have humiliated the Muslim society. These aid in the equipping mujahideen (warriors for religious cause of safeguarding the Muslim traditions) with able members. Technology makes it easy to remove… READ MORE

How to Reference "Technology in Disaster Management" Essay in a Bibliography

Related Essays:

Technology in Disaster Management Research Paper

Technology in Disaster Management

Over the last several years, the issue of how private organizations and governments are responding to various manmade as well as natural disasters has been increasingly… read more

Research Paper 7 pages (2354 words) Sources: 4 Topic: Management / Organizations

---

Technological Transformation and Their Impact on Disaster Responses A-Level Outline Answer

Challenges inhibiting the effective application of communication technologies in disaster management in The Asia-Pacific region

i) Lack of effective early warning systems to supplement the flood warning and forecast systems… read more

A-Level Outline Answer 2 pages (613 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Management / Organizations

---

Managing Information Systems Introduction in the Contemporary Case Study

Managing Information Systems Introduction

In the contemporary business environment, IS (information systems) have become the strategy weapons that organizations employ to achieve competitive advantages. With stiff competitions that organizations are… read more

Case Study 8 pages (2760 words) Sources: 10 Style: Harvard Topic: Management / Organizations

---

Managing Homeland Security Essay

Managing Homeland Security

You were recently selected as the Emergency Management Coordinator for a medium-sized city. Your position didn't exist in that city before you came along. You have been… read more

Essay 5 pages (2062 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA Topic: Management / Organizations

---

Disaster Plan Thesis

Disaster Management Plan

SCENARIO

XYZ Insurance Company, with corporate offices in Miami, recently suffered significant losses due to a hurricane. The company has no formal disaster management plan; only some… read more

Thesis 5 pages (1370 words) Sources: 2 Style: APA Topic: Management / Organizations

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>