Disasters can be prepared via virtual simulations...

The importance of information applications that make our lives easier was once again understood in the earthquake disaster. Experts draw attention to the use of information applications before and after natural disasters such as earthquakes, and pointed out the fact that, non-governmental organizations reach the scenes based on the information shared by people through channels such as Twitter as in the last Kahramanmaraş earthquake. Stating that smartphones are one of the most important tools that complement early warning systems, experts pointed out the importance of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle) in location and damage assessment. Experts emphasize that virtual simulations can be used in the disaster preparedness process, and that training can be provided with scenarios that are very close to reality in a metaverse environment by using virtual simulations.

Informatics applications also stand out in disasters

Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Computer Engineering (English) Research Assistant Gamze Nilsu Çolak made an assessment about informatics applications, the importance of which is once again understood especially in natural disasters.

All disaster processes and strategies should be planned in advance

Gamze Nilsu Çolak stated that there are stages of formation and development when the crises experienced and likely to be experienced are considered as a process. Çolak said that "If the necessary crisis management cannot be performed during the formation phase, measures are not taken and the risks are not reduced, the crisis will be in the development stage. For example, a lack of coordination may arise when responding to disasters because many national and international organizations and even citizens try to act at the same time with all their good intentions. Previous disaster experience has shown that the preparation, plans and strategy of any disaster process must be determined in advance. While making these preparations, all scenarios can be prepared and processed before the crisis by using artificial intelligence. Possible action plans are created against these scenarios.".

Virtual simulations can be used to be prepared for disasters

Stating that virtual simulations can be used to be prepared for disasters, Gamze Nilsu Çolak said, "Personnel and volunteers who are actively interested in current systems can be trained with scenarios that are very close to reality in a metaverse environment by using virtual simulations. Management in a moment of crisis is possible with a successful communication process. Especially in crisis moments such as earthquakes, where even seconds are effective in human life, the most accurate version of information should be transferred to aid organizations and masses in the fastest way. This is achieved through technology and information applications that provide solutions to many problems.".

Information shared via social media provided important data

Research Assistant Gamze Nilsu Çolak stated that information can be shared through social media through the process of creating an emergency information system called crowdsourcing in addition to the applications specially developed for disasters. Çolak said, "As in the Kahramanmaraş earthquake that affected 11 provinces, non-governmental organizations are transferred to the scene of events based on the information shared by people through channels such as Twitter. Not only during the disaster, but also before the disaster, information applications and social channels are used to increase the awareness levels of the society against disaster risks.".

Technology can also take part in preventing crises

Research Assistant Gamze Nilsu Çolak noted that human risks have been added to natural disasters in recent years and stated that "Factors such as global warming, rapid and unplanned urbanization, environmental pollution leave humanity at greater risk day by day. Technology is not only involved in crisis situations, but also in predicting these crises, and maybe even preventing them or being prepared for the worst-case scenario. We can say that there are roles that technology can play in disaster management. For example, thanks to the models realized with the data collected by sensors, mobile Internet and Internet of Things (IoT), threats can be detected in advance and prevention is provided with modeling systems. For instance, thanks to sensors, countries such as Australia, Indonesia and France monitor seismic movements in the sea and can provide early detection of adverse situations and tsunamis.".

"Information flow" is vital in search and rescue

Noting that the flow of information on search and rescue activities is one of the things that technology can do during the crisis, Çolak said that "Thanks to social media applications such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, it is ensured that teams are led to areas where relief efforts are needed in real time. Similarly, relief efforts could be coordinated thanks to 20 million tweets about the disaster during Hurricane Sandy, which occurred and progressed in the Caribbean in 2012."

Mobile apps can make life easier

Gamze Nilsu Çolak stated that some mobile applications easily downloaded to mobile phones can also make life easier in crisis situations, "These low-cost applications provide protection from disasters and enable us to receive survival tips by providing the information people need. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), My Hurricane Tracker, QuakeFeed are some of them. Another application called OneEvent can follow the expressions such as heat and humidity in the place and report situations such as fire and flooding in advance.".

Smartphones complete early warning systems

Noting that smartphones are the most important tools that complete early warning systems today, Çolak made the following remarks;

"Smartphones are one of the most important tools that complete early warning systems and with the latest technology, they can reach everyone in the region in a very short time and show the exact coordinates and escape points of the scene through applications with the help of geographic information systems. Some mobile applications provide the opportunity to communicate with people in the near vicinity by using only Bluetooth or Wi-Fi in the moments when the Internet and networks suddenly crashes during an earthquake. For example, the Signal Offline application delivers your messages such as text, visual, voice over Wi-Fi to users around the environment without being connected to a local network. Bridgefy pairs your device with one of the other devices in the Bluetooth hotspot. The more people who join the network, the bigger it is and the more it allows for messaging.".

UAVs helped locate and damage assessment

Gamze Nilsu Çolak stated that another technology used in the location of disaster victims who need help in search and rescue operations and in the damage assessment of buildings is unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and said “Buildings and roads in aerial images can be created faster by making inferences with artificial intelligence and machine learning. As drone technology has saved dozens of lives in many disasters in the past, a study is also being carried out by Google on sending relief materials to disaster areas with UAVs.”.

Çolak also noted that open source portable telecommunication towers have been developed in relation to telecommunication networks that have become unusable due to both damage to lines and too much demand during disaster management and said that "These towers can be transported in a portable way and installed in a very short time where they are needed. Some parts can even be created with a 3D printer at the scene. The formation has been tested and succeeded in Vanuatu, where communication could not be achieved following the volcanic eruption that occurred in Australia.".

 

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)