Since there are no currently active contests, we have switched Climate CoLab to read-only mode.
Learn more at https://climatecolab.org/page/readonly.
Skip navigation
Share via:

Pitch

Given the ubiquity of smart phones, I am going to develop a mobile & desktop application that will help improve disaster response.


Description

Summary

Natural disasters, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, storms and epidemics, and other forms of natural disasters pose a growing threat in terms of both frequency and extent of damage associated with them. Disasters, in addition to causing death and injury, can destroy infrastructure and shatter communities, displacing people and devastating economies. As human populations rise in numbers and density, and as the effects of global warming cause more frequent and powerful natural disasters, these risks are only set to increase.    

We urgently need new tools to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters on this increased scale. The tools we need could include communication technologies, teaching tools, new equipment to save lives during a disaster, and new tools to help clean up, recover and rebuild after the event (Source : http://ideas.itu.int).

Given the ubiquity of smart phones, I am going to develop a mobile & desktop application that will help improve disaster response. 


Category of the action

Adaptation


What actions do you propose?

The Solution:
 

The family member can keep his/her family informed about his/her status thru the application: 

-          Location (e.g. Sister is in school, Brother is in transit, etc.)

-          Situation (e.g. Brother says there is heavy traffic and Road A is not passable because of a fallen tree.)

The family member can inform the village captain about the family’s situation thru the application: 

-          Utilities (e.g. Father says there is no electricity in Road C.)

-          Medical Situation (e.g. Mother says a family member is hurt.)

The village captain uses the data collected to  inform the other residents of the village and to make important decisions:

-          E.g. 5 families reported that Road A is not passable because of a fallen tree. The village captain will inform the rescuers and residents to take a different route.

-          E.g. A total of 50 people are injured according to the reports from the families. The village captain will request for a larger medical team.

The data collected from all the villages will be used by the city mayor to make important decisions: 

-          E.g. 15 villages reported that there is no water. The mayor will start a free water distribution.

The data collected will be organized and analyzed at each level: starting from the family → per village → per city → to other government units. This will result to faster and better decision making.

 

The Features:
 

A.      The Family Watch mobile application will include speed dial buttons to each family member. Pressing the button will send the family member a request to update their status in the Family Dashboard.

B.      The Family Watch mobile application will include speed dial buttons to the police, the hospital, the fire department and one preferred contact (e.g. a family relative).

C.      The Family Watch mobile application will include a dashboard showing the status of each family member: 1) Location, 2) Situation, 3) Health, etc. Each family member can update his/her status and it will appear in the dashboard for the information of the other family members.

D.      The Family Watch mobile application will include a “Send Report” feature where they can summarize the data from the dashboard and send it to the village captain.

E.       The Family Watch desktop application is designed for the village captain. It will include a map of the village with different types:

-          Road Map: The data from the reports will be used to indicate which roads are blocked or not passable.

-          Utilities Map: The data from the reports will be used to indicate which roads do not have water or electricity.

The Family Watch desktop application will create a table of the village statistics: 1) how many are injured, how many are missing, etc. so it will be easier for the village captain to make decisions and submit his/her village status to the city mayor. 


Who will take these actions?

1. Family Member - report his/her family's status to the village captain

2. Village Captain - report his/her village's status to the mayor

3. City Mayor - take action


Where will these actions be taken?

I will start with my own village - Pilar Village, my own city - Las Pinas City, my own country - Philippines.


What are other key benefits?

The public will greatly benefit from the application. Government and non-government institutions may find the application useful in improving disaster response.


What are the proposal’s costs?


Time line

Plan - 4 weeks

Design - 6 weeks

Develop - 12 weeks

Test - 4 weeks

Deploy - 4 weeks


Related proposals


References