Optimizing Technology and ICTs
Workshop Reports - Event 2010 - Published on 06 August 2010
The disaster life cycle starts with preparedness (readiness) where first-responders operate in a “day-to-day” mode, and then when disaster strikes they quickly shift into the response mode. They handle immediate life-safety issues, rescue people, put fires out, provide services and stop continuing damage. Then everything shifts to the recovery phase where survivors work to rebuild their lives. This is followed by a mitigation phase where actions are taken that aim to have a long-term effect; homes are built stronger, levees are built higher and the infrastructure is hardened. People start to prepare for the next disaster as the cycle starts over again.
Humanitarian organizations respond to more than just acute disasters where this life cycle is evident. They tackle on-going humanitarian crises of drought, famine, war and other chronic longer-term situations that evolve over years and generations. They operate in remote areas that have similar, yet different, technology challenges.
Reliable, low-cost networking technologies are critical in disaster response and recovery work. Technology and communication tools come in multiple forms including satellite, radio, cellular and terrestrial. No single form of communication will work in every disaster situation, therefore response and recovery workers need an in-depth understanding of the wide array of tools across the entire spectrum.
The most important consideration when determining which communication technology to employ is its ability to get useful and timely information from one place to another. The best selection could be voice or data; it could be a phone call, radio call, fax, email, or software application — what matters is getting information to the appropriate person in a manner in whichit can be received. The content of the message could be equipment orders, population information, health and welfare information, command and control information, or information for the media.
An excellent means of prioritizing technologies is the PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency) model, this common frame of reference helps determine the appropriate technology for any given situation.
The equipment you have, the environment you will be in, and the training of your people are also important considerations. Equipment on a shelf behind glass that says, “Break in case of emergency” never works in a disaster. No one even thinks about it and if someone does, no one knows how to use it.
A real need exists for better pre-planning and for building local capacity. Developing effective of systems will require tight coordination among responding organizations that must be entirely self-sufficient on the ground to ensure efficiency.
There are educational, economic and humanitarian benefits to cultivating the voluntary learning of electronics and communications skills within a population, according to Allen Pitts, Media and Public Relations Manager with the National Association for Amateur Radio. He was referring to amateur radio, often called ham radio, There are 2.5 million ham operators around the world.
Amateur radio operators enjoy worldwide wireless communications with one another and are able to support their communities with emergency and disaster communications. Ham operators have conducted emergency communications worldwide for decades with their battery-operated radios. Their role is critical in providing information during the first hours and days of a disaster.
Loosing communications is a disaster on top of a disaster. Amateur radio is an excellent means of emergency communication whenlandlines, cell phones and other conventional means of communications fail. Unlike commercial systems, amateur radio is not as dependent on terrestrial facilities, it is dispersed throughout a community without "choke points”, it needs no network infrastructure.
Amateur radio operators are experienced, no training is necessary because it is their hobby,they can use hundreds of frequencies and quickly establish networks tying disparate agencies together to enhance interoperability.
Joel Schroeder, Business Development Manager, Land Mobile Services, Inmarsat Inc., reported that in disaster situations, Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service could help save lives through instant restoration of vital communications to coordinate relief efforts. It enables field workers to set up a temporary office in areas where terrestrial communications are poor or non-existent, with access to the same applications they use back at base. Its features include voice and high-speed data, IP up to ½ Mbps, and it’s weather resistant , comes in portable, laptop-sized terminals as well as vehicular “on the move” terminals.
He discussed the IsatPhone Pro, a satellite phone offering satellite telephony, voicemail, text and email messaging along with bluetooth for hands-free use. It is portable and quick to set up in emergencies and it is easy to use. Its flexibility makes it suitable for individual project managers or small teams in a temporary field office environment. The IsatPhone Pro also has a significantly lower cost of ownership than before.
During the Haiti earthquake disaster, Inmarsat:
• Enabled connectivity for individuals and Wi-Fi hubs;
• Supported coordination of humanitarian aid;
• Provided security for NGO personnel;
• Enabled live media broadcasting.
Inmarsat is launching its Humanitarian Pricing on October 1, 2010, which will meet procurement requirements and lower cost of entry, provide training to ensure end-user readiness and offer prepaid, standard, or SCAP billing.
By accelerating humanitarian aid with supply chain management and partner communities, we can triumph over humanitarian crises to get the right aid to people when and where they need it most, asserted Shari Temple, Managing Director EMEA, Aidmatrix Foundation.
She discussed how technologies like the Aidmatrix Network improve the efficiency of donation management within an organization. Aidmatrix forms partnerships with some of the most globally respected nonprofits and donors and teams up with government entities to maximize positive impact , amplify donor contributions, and connect organizations to the humanitarian-relief supply chain.
Aidmatrix leverages innovative solutions from industry to serve its partners in the non-profit arena enabling NGOs and field workers to communicate. It provides the Right Aid to the Right People at the Right Time. ™
By its very nature, aid and development work presents significant communications challenges. When working in remote areas or where infrastructure is destroyed, being able to communicate can literally make the difference between life and death. Voice connectivity alone is not enough anymore, Web-based applications are essential. Jeff Jacobson, Co-Founder and Director of Technology, OODAlink Inc., explained how satellite communications provide that critical link so you can “OODA” (Observe, Orient, Decide and Act).
Technology options run the gamut from individual, voice-only applications to voice/data services for large groups. When determining which satcom technologies to use, it is important to consider these factors: the number of users it supports, coverage area, costs, voice and/or data, Wi-Fi or wired, power, ease of use, setup time and portability.
Fortunately, with satellite communications technologies, it is easier than ever to stay connected around the globe. Today’s technology enables you to get the information you need, when you need it, so you can make decisions to take the best actions for your situation.
There are four Voice and/or Internet options for one to N+ People:
• Satphones to give voice services and limited data to individuals;
• BGAN terminals for individual data and voice services;
• Fully integrated satcom kits provide voice and data – with self-sustaining power – to small teams;
• VSAT terminals for voice and data services for large groups in a long-term recovery or aid operation.
Reported by Joan Coyle.
Moderated by:
Keith Robertory, Disaster Services Technology Manager, American Red Cross
Speakers:
Jeff Jacobson, Co-Founder and Director of Technology, OODAlink Inc.
Steve Summers, Chief Operating Officer, Key Travel
Shari Temple, Managing Director EMEA, Aidmatrix Foundation
Allen Pitts, Media and Public Relations Manager, ARRL – the national association for Amateur Radio
Joel Schroeder, Business Development Manager, Land Mobile Services, Inmarsat Inc
Lionel Marre, Project Manager, OMIF - IT-Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch, World Food Programme (WFP)