The importance of IT applications, which simplify our lives, was once again understood in the earthquake disaster. Experts emphasize that IT applications are used before and after natural disasters like earthquakes, and that, as in the recent Kahramanmaraş earthquake, non-governmental organizations reached disaster sites based on information shared by individuals via platforms like Twitter. Experts state that smartphones are among the most important tools complementing early warning systems and pointed out the importance of UAVs 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 very realistic scenarios in a metaverse environment using virtual simulations.
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Preparing for Disasters with Virtual Simulations…
IT applications stand out in disasters too
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Computer Engineering (English) Research Assistant Gamze Nilsu Çolak made an evaluation regarding IT applications, whose importance has once again been understood, especially in natural disasters.
All kinds of disaster processes and strategies should be planned in advance
Stating that crises experienced and likely to be experienced have formation and development stages when handled as a process, Gamze Nilsu Çolak said, “If the necessary crisis management cannot be done, precautions are not taken, and risks are not reduced at the formation stage, the crisis is moved to the development stage. For example, when responding to disasters, a lack of coordination can arise because numerous national and international organizations, and even citizens, try to take action simultaneously with all good intentions. Previous disaster experiences have shown that the preparation, plans, and strategy for every type of disaster process must be determined in advance. While these preparations are made, all scenarios can be prepared and processed before the crisis by utilizing artificial intelligence. Possible action plans are created against these generated scenarios.”
Virtual simulations can be used in the disaster preparedness process
Noting that virtual simulations can be used in the disaster preparedness process, Gamze Nilsu Çolak said, “Personnel and volunteers actively involved with existing systems can be trained with very realistic scenarios in a metaverse environment using virtual simulations. Management during a crisis is possible through a successful communication process. Especially in crisis moments like earthquakes, where seconds are critical for human life, the most accurate information must be transmitted to aid organizations and masses as quickly as possible. This is provided by technology and IT applications that offer solutions to many problems.”
Information shared via social media provided important data
Research Assistant Gamze Nilsu Çolak stated that in addition to applications specially developed for disasters, information sharing can also be done via social media through the process of creating an emergency information system called crowdsourcing. Çolak said, “As in the Kahramanmaraş earthquake that affected 11 of our provinces, non-governmental organizations are reaching disaster sites based on information shared by individuals via platforms like Twitter. IT applications and social media platforms are utilized not only during disasters but also before disasters to increase public awareness of disaster risks.”
Technology can also play a role in preventing crises
Noting that human risks have also been added to natural disasters in recent times, Research Assistant Gamze Nilsu Çolak said, “Factors such as global warming, rapid and unplanned urbanization, and environmental pollution increasingly put humanity at risk day by day. Technology is not only involved in crisis situations but also in predicting these crises, perhaps even preventing them, or at least being prepared for the worst-case scenario. We can say that technology has roles it can take in disaster management. For example, threats can be detected in advance thanks to models realized with data collected by sensors, mobile internet, and the Internet of Things (IoT), and precautions are ensured with modeling systems . For example, thanks to sensors, countries like Australia, Indonesia, and France monitor seismic activities in the seas and can enable early detection of anomalous situations and tsunamis.”
“Information flow” is vital in search and rescue
Noting that the flow of information regarding search and rescue efforts is paramount among what technology can do during a crisis, Çolak said, “Thanks to social media applications like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp, teams are directed in real-time to areas where aid efforts are needed. Likewise, during Hurricane Sandy, which occurred and progressed in the Caribbean in 2012, aid efforts could be coordinated thanks to 20 million tweets related to the disaster.”
Mobile applications can simplify life
Stating that some mobile applications easily downloaded to cell phones can also simplify life in crisis situations, Gamze Nilsu Çolak said, “These low-cost applications provide people with the information they need, enabling them to protect themselves from disasters and get tips for survival. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), My Hurricane Tracker, and QuakeFeed are some of them. Another application called OneEvent can pre-notify situations like fires and floods by monitoring indicators such as heat and humidity levels in the location.”
Smartphones are complementary to early warning systems
Noting that smartphones are currently the most important tools complementing early warning systems, Çolak said the following:
“Smartphones are among the most important tools complementing early warning systems, and with the latest technology, they can reach everyone in the region very quickly, also utilizing geographic information systems to display the exact coordinates of the incident site and escape points via applications. Some mobile applications provide the ability to communicate with people in the immediate vicinity using only Bluetooth or Wi-Fi when the internet and networks suddenly collapse during an earthquake. For example, the Signal Offline application delivers your messages such as text, images, and audio to nearby users via Wi-Fi without being connected to a local network. Bridgefy, on the other hand, pairs your device with one of the other devices in its Bluetooth range. The more people join the network, the larger it grows and allows for messaging.”
UAVs assisted in location and damage assessment
Stating that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are another technology used in search and rescue operations for locating disaster victims in need of help and assessing damage to buildings, Gamze Nilsu Çolak said, “Buildings and roads in aerial images can be analyzed with artificial intelligence and machine learning to create maps faster. Just as drone technology has saved dozens of lives in many past disasters, a study is also being conducted by Google on sending aid materials to disaster areas with UAVs.”
Çolak also noted that open-source portable telecommunication towers have been developed regarding telecommunication networks that become unusable during disaster management due to damaged lines or excessive demand, adding, “These towers can be carried portably and set up very quickly where needed. Some parts can even be created on-site with a 3D printer. The initiative was tested and successful in Vanuatu, where communication was disrupted after a volcanic eruption in Australia.”