The Hindu          13.01.2011

Availability, management of data key to disaster planning: expert

Special Correspondent

taking stock: S. Shanmugavel, Registrar, Anna University; M. Sekar,
Dean, College of Engineering, Anna University; Ravi Sinha, Member, Core
Group on Earthquake, National Disaster Management Authority, New Delhi;
and A.R. Rajarathnam, Director Centre for Disaster Mitigation and
Management, Anna University, at a meeting in Chennai on Wednesday. —
Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

Ready availability, reliability and efficient management of data is key
to disaster planning and decision-making, Ravi Sinha, Member, Core Group
on Earthquake, National Disaster Management Authority, New Delhi, said
on Wednesday.

In his key-note address at the third project monitoring
committee meeting and consultation with user departments on GIS
information based e-governance for vulnerability assessment of Chennai
hosted by the Centre for Disaster Mitigation and Management, Anna
University-Chennai, Mr. Sinha said the more the data available the
better the preparedness and the more effective the decision-making
process.

A better understanding of consequences of a disaster
such as earthquake is important for launching an alternative plan and
reduce severity of impact in circumstances where the first line of
action has not been executed, Mr. Sinha said.

It was equally imperative to have an idea of the type of
scientific and field information that would become relevant in disaster
management.

Noting that only some States had undertaken, on a pilot
basis, rapid visual screening of buildings to assess seismic
vulnerability, Mr. Sinha said Chennai was the first city to do the
mapping on a comprehensive and sustainable basis.

However, it was important to understand that data
collection was not an end in itself and that the information had to fit
into the larger scenario of impact mitigation.

In his presidential address, S. Shanmugavel, Anna
University Registrar, said the e-governance project sponsored by the
Department of Information Technology, Government of India, aimed at
assessing the quality of buildings and overall seismic safety.

The project involved geological, geo-physical, geo-technical, remote sensing and GIS mapping components.

A seismic hazard map on a GIS platform would help officials take appropriate decisions in an emergency.

Noting that the Asian continent as a whole was
vulnerable to disasters — accounting for 83 per cent of the
disaster-affected population globally — India alone accounted for 24 per
cent of deaths due to disasters, he said. Inaugurating the event,
Gabriel, District Revenue Officer, Relief and Rehabilitation, said a
reliable database was the backbone of good governance.

He also stressed the need for education and training in disaster mitigation and management.