| Introduction | | | | identify their emergency reception centers, driving |
| Emergency management is a dynamic process. | | | | directions, and emergency exits. The system can |
| Emergency preparedness for disaster | | | | also be integrated with weather, demographic |
| management is the process of preparing, | | | | data and real-time highway database and could |
| mitigating, responding, and recovering from any | | | | help planners to evacuate peoples during the |
| emergency situation. Individuals and organizations | | | | crucial time of natural disasters. Its major |
| responsible for emergency management use | | | | components includes end to end web-based |
| different tools to save lives reduce human | | | | solution, feature query, proximity analysis, |
| suffering and preserve economic assets before, | | | | emergency response plan module, evacuation |
| during and after any catastrophic event. But | | | | routing module for public emergency, property |
| nowadays, correct and timely information is a | | | | query module, theme add in and on/off module, |
| critical part of any successful emergency | | | | buffer analysis etc. |
| management program. The unique tool for | | | | Chemical Disaster |
| emergency purpose is a web enabled Geographic | | | | Hazardous material are chemical substances, which |
| Information System (GIS), which could provide | | | | if released or misused, can pose threat to the |
| accurate and timely information. | | | | environment. These chemicals are used in |
| Generally, disasters are characterized by the | | | | industry, agriculture, medicine, research, and |
| scope of an emergency. An emergency becomes | | | | consumer goods. As many as 5,00,000 products |
| a disaster when it exceeds the capability of the | | | | pose physical or health hazards and can be |
| local resources to manage it. Disaster is an event | | | | defined as “hazardous chemicals.” Each |
| “… meeting at least one of the following | | | | year, over 1,000 new synthetic chemicals are |
| criteria: kills 10 or more persons; affects 100 or | | | | introduced. Hazardous materials come in the form |
| more persons; leads to a declaration of state of | | | | of explosives, flammable and combustible |
| emergency; or leads to call for international | | | | substances, poisons, and radioactive materials. |
| assistance.” Disaster also involves humanitarian | | | | These substances are most often released as a |
| emergency, humanitarian actions, mass casualities | | | | result of transportation accidents or because of |
| etc. Effective disaster management requires rapid | | | | chemical accidents in manufacturing plants. |
| decisions and actions on behalf of relief workers. | | | | In the early hours of Monday, Dec 3, 1984 a toxic |
| The scope of disasters is large (in terms of the | | | | cloud of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas enveloped |
| number of people affected) and also the most | | | | the hundreds of shanties and huts surrounding a |
| important thing is the lack of resources to | | | | pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. Later, a deadly |
| manage disasters. | | | | cloud slowly drifted in the cool night air through |
| Disaster management in developing countries | | | | streets in surrounding sections, sleeping residents |
| exists within a complex political, social and | | | | awoke, coughing, and rubbing painfully stinging |
| economic environment, where a coherent and | | | | eyes. By the time the gas cleared at dawn, many |
| coordinated approach can be difficult to | | | | were dead. Four months after the tragedy, the |
| implement. As such, large-scale high magnitude | | | | Indian government reported the parliament that |
| – low frequency disasters will continue to | | | | 1,430 people had died. In 1991 the official Indian |
| overwhelm local disaster managers, prohibiting | | | | government panel charged with tabulating deaths |
| effective management, particularly during the | | | | and injuries updated the count to more than |
| response phase. Although most natural disasters | | | | 3,800 dead and approximately 11,000 with |
| cannot be prevented, disaster losses can be | | | | disabilities. Considering the importance of |
| minimized when appropriate actions are taken | | | | emergency preparedness for these chemical |
| which utilize the latest technology and real-time | | | | disasters a webGIS tool Tier II Manager TM is |
| spatial data/information. Through GIS and remote | | | | developed. |
| sensing we can make data / information available, | | | | This is a user friendly comprehensive tool |
| and answer questions concerning the spatial and | | | | developed to streamline the process of meeting |
| temporal dimensions for disaster management. | | | | emergency planning and emergency response |
| In today’s information technology disaster | | | | needs. This provides a real-time access to critical |
| management rely on IT tools such as GIS, | | | | hazardous chemical inventory and facility |
| electronic mail, document sharing, web and | | | | information. It addresses the needs of first |
| database access. GIS database can be accessed | | | | responders, emergency response planners, facility |
| for damage assessment or to locate critical | | | | submitters, and state authorities. Vulnerability |
| infrastructure such as chemical facility that needs | | | | reports, demographic reports, notifications, and |
| to be inspected and secured. High resolution | | | | payment modules make this system more |
| images or video sent in a real-time situation from | | | | valuable. This is ensured with multiple levels of |
| a remote location can allow experts to assess | | | | security to appropriate groups in order to have |
| damage. Henceforth, GIS integrated with IT | | | | access for appropriate data and functionality. |
| presents significant opportunities to greatly | | | | It streamlines the process of chemical inventory |
| improve the effectiveness of emergency | | | | reporting. Chemical storage facilities can submit |
| management. | | | | regulatory and planning information through a set |
| Recently, the internet is gaining popularity as a | | | | of simple on-line forms. In following years, the |
| mechanism that can facilitate the exchange of | | | | facilities can revise the existing information |
| information/data (spatial and non-spatial) in time to | | | | anytime, significantly reducing the expense of |
| warn a disaster. Initiatives such as the Global | | | | repeating the entire submission process each year. |
| Disaster Information Network (GDIN) provide | | | | Planners can access real-time information to |
| evidence of the importance and the value of | | | | create emergency response plans and carry out |
| disaster – related information, as well as the | | | | comprehensive oversight activities. When rapid |
| need to obtain and share it effectively. The aim | | | | response is necessary, first responders can map |
| of GDIN is to “provide the right information, in | | | | all chemical storage facilities and instantly retrieve |
| the right format, to the right person, in the right | | | | other supplemental information like site plans while |
| time to make the right decision” (GDIN, 2005). | | | | mobilizing toward the emergency site. This |
| Spatial decision support systems, commonly | | | | provides a comprehensive, cost-effective way to |
| considered as application specific software | | | | meet regulatory requirements and provides |
| solutions (Rinner, 2003), are used in solving | | | | emergency response information at the critical |
| complex spatial problems where alternative | | | | moment decision-making in no time. Its major |
| decisions needs consideration. Wellar (1990) and | | | | components includes end-to-end web-based |
| Crossland et al. (1995) showed that the use of | | | | solution, chemical storage facility analysis tool with |
| GIS as a type of Spatial Disaster Support | | | | respect to infrastructure and demographics, |
| System (SDSS) reduced the decision time and | | | | automated authority level query tool for spatial |
| increased the accuracy of individual | | | | planning, query tool for an extensive database |
| decision-makers, while Peng and Tsou (2003) the | | | | – data retrieved in seconds and as an add-in |
| power and benefits of GIS. Integrating these | | | | for any back-end database platforms. For first |
| technologies in an online, GIS based SDSS has the | | | | responders, the application can be deployed |
| potential to increase the use and accessibility of | | | | wirelessly or as a standalone version, covers |
| spatial data, as well as the accuracy and efficiency | | | | non-coverage areas and it also possess |
| of decision making, thereby improving the | | | | hierarchical level security for end users. |
| effectiveness of disaster response. | | | | Disaster Warning System |
| Hence for emergency preparedness and disaster | | | | As population and housing densities increase, the |
| management, GIS domains such as ArcGIS, | | | | world continues to experience ever increasing |
| ArcIMS, SQL Server and ASP were integrated | | | | danger and damages from natural and man made |
| and explored. Modules pertaining to emergency | | | | disasters. Deaths, injuries, and loss of property will |
| management were also developed by integrating | | | | increase around the world due to disasters, unless |
| the knowledge of experts, managers, | | | | changes are made in the manner we respond to |
| programmers and developers, web enabled GIS | | | | disasters. Most experts in disaster claims that the |
| techniques were used to manage nuclear, | | | | world’s population is at an ever increasing risk |
| chemical, natural and many other disasters. These | | | | of death, injury, and property damages from |
| web enabled GIS based applications provides | | | | disasters. Hence to notify the disaster and to |
| salient features for hazard alert, emergency | | | | minimize the risk a webGIS based Disaster |
| response, emergency management, leverage | | | | Warning System, is developed. |
| investment, facilitates emergency alerts, periodic | | | | This Disaster Warning System is aimed to |
| situational updates, community notifications, | | | | continuously alert the most geographically |
| service disruptions, interagency coordination, | | | | appropriate emergency response personnel such |
| e-Government solution and so forth. | | | | as rescue, fire, police, and ambulance personnel, to |
| Results and Discussion | | | | allow much quicker and more accurate first |
| Web Technology for Emergency Management | | | | response efforts and further reduce disaster |
| GIS system integrates ArcGIS, ArcIMS, SQL | | | | impacts on lives and property. |
| Server and ASP domain networks to form a | | | | Combining the power of GIS mapping analysis and |
| web-based emergency preparedness / | | | | notification capabilities, the system facilitates |
| management system. Both spatial and aspatial | | | | end-to-end response and recovery. It helps to |
| were kept in GIS database. Coding for information | | | | analyze a situation, send out calls, and collect |
| retrieval, search capability, feature extraction | | | | responses from thousands of people in an hour |
| were carried using ArcIMS and ASP. All the | | | | using flexible standard based tools. DWS differs |
| Objects, Methods, Modules and Components | | | | from any location with an internet connection, |
| available within the software environment were | | | | providing powerful decision-making and proactive |
| utilized effectively, coded and programmed. The | | | | notification capabilities. |
| application is developed as a web enabled GIS on | | | | It brings together the best in speech technology |
| Microsoft Windows Platform. In all the applications | | | | with the power of mapping through GIS to |
| for disaster management, Maps are the primary | | | | provide Emergency Response Managers with the |
| output of the system which, when displayed on | | | | speed and flexibility to meet even the most |
| computer screens, are more dynamic, potential | | | | challenging notification scenarios. It is developed |
| and versatile (Alexander, 1991). This system | | | | using XML technology which provides an open |
| complies with Coppock (1995) who points out that | | | | standard that the Emergency Response |
| the technological developments intended for use in | | | | community has been seeking. The easy-to-use |
| developing countries must be kept simple, | | | | application can be assessed by multiple agents |
| considering the skills (both technical and | | | | from any location though a simple internet |
| bureaucratic) and resources available. The tools | | | | browser. With a set of personalized passwords, |
| available in the webGIS applications and its | | | | responders can customize a set of standard |
| features towards emergency management are | | | | response forms, choose the targeted area for |
| formulated similarly. The potential of webGIS tools | | | | the notification using a simple GIS interface, and |
| for nuclear, chemical and natural and many other | | | | initiate the call. Recipients can hear the message |
| disasters were discussed as follows. | | | | spoken. The system can conduct dialog, map and |
| Nuclear Disaster | | | | collect critical response information, and trigger |
| Although construction and operation of nuclear | | | | alerts and other dispatch. Easy-to-read reports, |
| power plants are closely monitored and regulated | | | | help one to rate and understand the notification, |
| by the nuclear regulatory authorities, accidents, | | | | performance, identify which calls were answered, |
| though unlikely, are possible. The most immediate | | | | which ones never reached their intended |
| danger from an accident at a nuclear power plant | | | | recipients, and which recipients need help. It |
| is the exposure to high level radiation. | | | | combines technologies to enable informed |
| Emergencies declared for nuclear power plant are | | | | decision-making and communication when crucial |
| defined in terms of notification of unusual event, | | | | situation exists. Its major components includes |
| alert, site area emergency and general | | | | interactive mapping, speech and text-to-speech |
| emergency. Notification of unusual event means a | | | | recognition, voice recognition, real time critical |
| problem has occurred at the plant, but no | | | | responses from clients, real time GIS mapping and |
| radiation leak is expected. Alert means that small | | | | multi-modal response, system interoperability and |
| amounts of radiation could leak inside the plant, | | | | to communicate by using the advantage of XML. |
| but it will not affect the community. Site area | | | | Conclusion |
| emergency describes a more serious problem. | | | | Thus for nuclear, chemical and natural disaster |
| Small amounts of radiation could leak from the | | | | webGIS based tools such as NuclearPlannerTM |
| plant. Area sirens may sound. Citizens are | | | | and ChemicalResponderTM will be very useful for |
| requested to listen to radio or television for | | | | emergency preparedness and disaster |
| instructions and be prepared to evacuate or find | | | | management practice. The paper also reveals that |
| shelter. For addressing the above issues an | | | | the web enabled GIS technology has got its |
| emergency preparedness plan for nuclear power | | | | unique potential for emergency preparedness |
| plant is developed using the recent scientific web | | | | management. These web enabled tools currently |
| enabled GIS technology. | | | | serve as a national and international application |
| The NuclearPlannerTM, a web GIS based | | | | tools for emergency preparedness and disaster |
| application tool, provides a web-based evacuation | | | | management. These tools were further upgraded |
| preparedness for citizens living close to nuclear | | | | by processing insitu data to increase the |
| power plant, within the 10 mile radius. This is an | | | | efficiency of disaster mitigation and management. |
| important tool for strengthening relations with the | | | | The recent scientific tool, Disaster Warning |
| community by reaching out to citizens with | | | | System developed in webGIS environment is also |
| updated information and proactive planning tools. | | | | in upgradation for proposing an effective disaster |
| This delivers personalized response information to | | | | management plan in near future. Any now this |
| identify appropriate evacuation routes and | | | | tool is being upgraded in ArcGIS Server |
| response measures. Citizens living in risk area can | | | | environment. |