Leeds University Business School

New & Emergent ICTs, Climate Change & Developing Countries

Stan Karanasios

AIMTech Research Group

Leeds University Business School

Leeds University Business School

ADAPTATION

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

MONITORING

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGIES

Observe, detect & predict, inform science and decision making

Disaster management, communications, EWS

Environment, health & resource management, building resilience,

capacity building

Scope of the activities

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What is new and emergent?

Wireless/mobile broadband technologies

Wireless sensor networks

Information systems

Rapidly deployable communications

Web based tools

Mobile technologies

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Source: Neves et al. 2009

What wireless looks like

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Monitoring systems in developing countries

•Using WSN

•Using UWB

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Preparation and response: Emergency communication systems Wireless broadband - strengthening communication links between rescue and relief units and Emergency Operation Centres

Establishing robust and reliable systems will continue to allow for voice and data communication during and after disasters

Rapidly deployable communications Wireless broadband temporary/ad-hoc networksMesh and MANET networks

Project DUMBO

Disaster management

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GIS & information systems in disaster management

Sahana

Social networking media in disasters

Facebook, Twitter

Victim participation/empowerment

New type of information dissemination

Disaster management

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Social networking site example

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/27/09/ondoy-situation-map-metro-manila-google-maps#Map

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Early warning systems

Early warning system technologies

• Satellite radio

• Mobile phones

• Cell Broadcasting

•The Web

• Wireless Sensor Networks and wireless broadband

• The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)

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Climate change adaptation

Although little is happening, the technologies discussed hold promise

Key advantage of the wireless broadband and WSN examples provided in this paper is that they can span a range of activities

Clear that attaining community involvement /use is necessary

Mobile technology up-scaled using mobile broadband, smart-phones, mobile health

Telecentres, increase connectivity and bandwidth required for climate change applications

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Discussion

Benefits of the new ICTs:

Technical feasibility/superiority, greater automation and accuracy, less expensive (relative), better response & information communication exchange, can predict and detect, scalable

Issues:

Still unclear how to converge new technologies with community needs and gain community involvement

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Leeds University Business School

Recommendations

Demonstrate the success and feasibility of new and emergent ICTs Greater focus on adaptation activities Invest in wireless infrastructure Build upon established and successful technologies Understand information requirements and build cross-platform interoperability