Search results for "disaster"

THE ROLE OF EHEALTH IN DISASTERS: A STRATEGY FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INTEGRATION IN DISASTER MEDICINE

2018

International audience; This paper describes the origins and progress of an international project to advance disaster eHealth (DEH)-the application of eHealth technologies to enhance the delivery of healthcare in disasters. The study to date has focused on two major themes; the role of DEH in facilitating inter-agency communication in disaster situations, and the fundamental need to promote awareness of DEH in the education of disaster managers and health professionals. The paper deals mainly with ongoing research on the second of these themes, surveying the current provision of disaster medicine education, the design considerations for a DEH programme for health professionals, the key curr…

Insights from a Simulation Model of Disaster Response: Generalization and Action Points

2016

In a prior paper we presented a system dynamics model that simulates responder behavior in a Norwegian landslide. The model shows how a set of vicious feedback loops caused by following standard organizational procedures that do not fit the disaster situation initially increases errors in response. Eventually learning and sensemaking in an improvisation/experimentation process leads to new emergent dynamics whereby the loops act virtuously. In this paper we aim to generalize this initial study by explaining in more detail how the model can describe large scale disaster responses of different types and how it relates to the wider disaster response literature. We discuss what types of levers,…

The role of community-based knowledge and local institutions in managing landslides on the slopes of Mount Elgon, Uganda

2015

The paper explores the degree to which community-based knowledge (CBK) and local institutions can be effective for disaster preparedness and management, based on a study carried out in Nametsi Parish, located on the slopes of Mount Elgon, in eastern Uganda. The study area has experienced innumerable landslides since 1933. Whereas a few of the landslides have not been disastrous, several others have had far-reaching effects on the livelihoods of people living in the area. This is attributed partly to the geographical setting, which makes the area difficult to access, and partly to socio-economic factors such as a high population growth rate and widespread poverty. Despite these aspects of vu…

How communities' perceptions of disasters influence disaster response: managing landslides on Mount Elgon, Uganda

2014

The aim of this paper is to assess the role of people's perception in disaster management. It is based on a study carried out along the slopes of Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda. People living in the study area have experienced a number of landslides, but the landslide in 2010 had the most far-reaching effects on community livelihoods and resulted in a major setback to development efforts in the area. Experiences of landslides have enabled the local people to develop a number of interpretations of the causes and effects of the phenomena. The study revealed that community members did not share uniform perceptions. Whereas some members advanced technical or physical explanations for the 2010 di…

The Employment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Analyzing and Mitigating Disaster Risks in Industrial Sites

2020

Effective safety procedures play a fundamental role in high-risk industrial contexts, because the occurrence of an accident can cause environmental catastrophes, severe damages to the structures, and fatal injuries to the workers. In particular, maintaining detailed and up-to-date information about potential accident areas is a crucial issue to prevent the occurrence of disasters and to safely plan the rescue process. In such contexts, periodic safety inspections are therefore performed on a regular basis, although they may expose the inspection personnel to harsh or hazardous environments. The employment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in such situations can provide unprecedented opport…

Spanish Secondary School Students' Notions on the Causes and Consequences of Climate Change

2010

This paper is part of an extensive study of secondary school students' preconceived ideas about climate change. Here, we undertake a survey in the province of Valencia (Spain) to ascertain secondary school students' notions of the causes and consequences of climate change. Results show, among other things, that students clearly relate the misuse of motor vehicles and factory emissions to the problem. However, the obvious correlation with household energy use is not observed. The usual confusion with other environmental problems, such as the hole in the ozone layer, as described in previous studies, is also detected. Students know almost no greenhouse gases other than CO2, while the socio‐ec…

European Master in Disaster Medicine: A Pilot Project Implemented in the Framework of European Inter-University Cooperation at the European Center Fo…

2000

GAMS files for the multi-objective models to locate temporary distribution centers after sudden-onset disasters

2019

These are the GAMS file with some a sample dataset that model locating temporary distribution centers after sudden-onset disasters. Required input data should be changed in the front.

Designing for Networked Community Resilience

2016

Abstract Communities have been described to be at the heart of the preparedness for and the response to disasters. The increasing connectedness has made communities more vulnerable for their dependence on a complex network of critical infrastructures. At the same time, this very connectedness has the potential to enable communities to self-organise, engage, and connect with other communities to improve their resilience. While the pathway to more resilience is promising and has many advocates, the response to crises and disasters, time and again reveals the challenges related to (i) ad-hoc switching from preparedness to response; (ii) ad-hoc connecting professional responders, communities, v…

Risk Accelerators in Disasters

2014

Published version of a chapter in the book: Advanced Information Systems Engineering. Also available from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07881-6_2 Modern societies are increasingly threatened by disasters that require rapid response through ad-hoc collaboration among a variety of actors and organizations. The complexity within and across today's societal, economic and environmental systems defies accurate predictions and assessments of damages, humanitarian needs, and the impact of aid. Yet, decision-makers need to plan, manage and execute aid response under conditions of high uncertainty while being prepared for further disruptions and failures. This paper argues tha…