BIG DATA AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Aug. 25, 2019

According to a report by the U.N.’s Asia-Pacific social agency (UNESCAP), use of big data can better predict increasingly complex disasters in the Asia-Pacific region.

Key findings of report: 

  • Since 1970, natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific region have killed two million people — 59% of the global death toll for that period. 

  • Disasters also cause more damage in Asia and the Pacific, measured as a percentage of GDP, than the rest of the world, and this gap has been widening. 

  • However, big data innovations reveal patterns of complex disaster risks which helps to understand and predict the risk of extreme and slow-onset events. 

  • Flood and cyclone forecasting now relies on computer simulations. Sensor webs and the Internet of Things have enabled efficient earthquake early-warning systems. Remote sensing via satellites and drones provide quick assessments of damage and people affected, and help in relief efforts. 

Big Data? 

  • Big data refers to the analysis of very large data sets to reveal patterns, trends and associations. 

  • The data can come from a range of sources, including satellite imagery, drone videos, simulations, crowdsourcing, social media and global positioning systems. 

Source : The Hindu