The role of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in reducing the effects of natural disasters

ArEzoo Dehghani, a health expert in disasters and emergencies of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, in an interview with Ana Science and Technology News Agency, stated that it is usually not possible to fully prevent the adverse effects of natural disasters. By adopting solutions, their scope and intensity can be significantly reduced.

She stated that the purpose of measures to reduce the damage of disasters includes reducing the probability of risk, reducing the consequences of risk, avoiding accepting risk, transferring, sharing or spreading risk. In vulnerable areas prone to natural disasters, public education of people, organization of local organizations with the aim of participation and providing services in case of disasters can be effective in reducing damages caused by an accident such as an earthquake.

Dehghani recalled: It is important to have proper planning for providing services and crisis management in such incidents and also to change the attitude and performance of various relief workers including Red Crescent rescuers, police force, health workers, the field of paying attention to the psychological issues of victims of natural disasters and complying with the It is necessary to help improve the health status of the victims.

45% of deaths from natural disasters are in Asia

She stated that in 2022, at least 387 natural disasters will be reported in the database of incident registration, which will lead to the death of 130 thousand 704 people in the world, she said: These incidents affected another 185 million people and nearly 223.8 billion dollars in economic losses.

dehghani said: Losses and damages caused by various disasters have always been higher in low and middle income countries. The continent of Asia is the continent with more than 40% of natural disasters and accounts for 45% of all deaths and 74% of people affected by disasters.

The importance of using new technologies in reducing the effects of disasters

Dehghani emphasized: The policymakers of the European and Central Asian Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2024 have published a joint statement in which they emphasized the importance of using and exploiting technology in reducing the effects of natural disasters.

She stated: Financial and human resources should be allocated to strengthen stakeholder participation in policies, projects and programs from the beginning of planning and at every stage of the disaster risk management cycle.

This health expert in disasters and medical emergencies emphasized the need to empower people and stated: Strengthening the capacities of different stakeholders to actively participate in policy-making by using appropriate tools and training and providing infrastructure are among the ways that the policy makers of the Europe and Central Asia Forum have also emphasized.

She continued: Increasing knowledge and understanding of disaster risk using technology and innovation by gender, age and vulnerable groups, implementing targeted interventions, to create effective flexibility and resilience in different communities, along with localizing solutions with the cooperation of communities and residents, increasing community resilience With the support of non-governmental stakeholders and interaction with local authorities are also among other important ways to reduce the effects of natural disasters on individuals and communities.

Dehghani considered it very important to strengthen crisis communication processes and information networks available to different audiences, use of new technologies in information and awareness and said: Encouraging scientific activists, media, private sector, policy makers, influencers and society to participate in informing attention to climate change as a transformative and inclusive process that requires high participation of stakeholders is also very important in the importance of reducing the effects of natural disasters crisis.

She reminded: Paying attention to climate change is a transformative and comprehensive process that requires high participation of stakeholders.

Emphasizing that in order to reduce the risk of disasters, it is possible to define policies, coordinate and define the duties of each governmental and non-governmental organization according to management issues at different national, provincial, and local levels. Training of specialist forces and their use in the supply, storage and distribution of food in crisis conditions, forecasting and construction of equipment needed for crisis conditions, cordoning off the area by police forces in the first weeks of the incident, forming monitoring and control teams for various stages of resource supply Collecting information related to the culture of the people of each region, applying the same management in the distribution of resources and avoiding personal management, using the experiences gained from previous crises, including these plans and policies.

Internet of things in the service of crisis management

This health expert in disasters and medical emergencies, stating that modern technologies, especially artificial intelligence, are used in crisis management today, she said: Internet of things has wide applications in the field of crisis management. For example, IIoT sensors in various devices can announce appropriate and timely warnings during crises and even minutes before they occur.

She reminded: The Internet of Things and sensors installed on trees can be used to measure the temperature, humidity and carbon content of fire and predict its probability and prevent its occurrence. Even the sensors installed on the ground can predict and announce the movements of the ground and sometimes the impact of earthquake waves. Also, by installing these sensors on dams or rivers and even using surveillance drones, it is possible to predict the water level and the possibility of flooding.

dehghani said: These forecasts lead to the strengthening of the rapid warning system in disasters, at the same time to the early evacuation of people, proper shelter and finally preparedness against the occurrence of disasters.

link