1. Role of Telecommunications/ ICT in Disaster Mitigation Alexandria, EGYPT, 14-17 April 2007
Dr. Cosmas L. Zavazava, PhD.
HEAD,
Emergency Telecommunications,
Least Developed Countries,
and Small Island Developing States

2. Disasters kill at least one million people each decade and cause annual losses of US 65 billion dollars…
THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF
DISASTERS

3. Pic earthquake

4. Pic earthquake

5. Pic floods

6. Pic forest fire

7. Pic forest fire

8. Sandstorm.

9. WHEN DISASTERS STRIKE…
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SAVE LIVES

10. AUTHORITY CITIZEN AUTHORITY CITIZEN FOUR COMMUNICATION IMPERATIVES
Alarm dissemination
Coordination
AUTHORITY
CITIZEN
Request information and provide
feedback on impact of disaster

11. ICT : MULTI-HAZARD APPROACH
Hurricane
Floods
Volcano
Earthquake
Fire
Tsunami

12. MULTI-TECHNOLOGY FOR MULTI-HAZARDS
Volcano
Earthquake
Tsunami
Flood
Fire

13. Telecommunication standardization - network and service aspects
ABOUT ITU
191 Member States
700 Sector Members
100 Sector Associates
ITU
Helping the World Communicate
ITU-T
Telecommunication standardization - network and service aspects
ITU-D
Assistance delivery and implementation of telecommunications in developing countries
ITU-R
Radiocommunication standardization and global radio spectrum management

14. ENHANCED COORDINATION IN EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS
ITU Deputy Secretary-General
Chairs Inter-Sectoral Group
On Emergency Telecoms
ITU-D
Coordinates all Sectors
at operational level
ITU-T
ITU-R

15. ITU’s COMPLETE PACKAGE TO DISASTER MITIGATION The Mitigation Onion Layer Approach (MOLA)
3. Prevention
Raising awareness using ICTs
and building preventive
measures in projects
1. Risk assessment/ Analysis
(intensity + probability)
4. Preparedness
Early warning + temporary measures
2. Early Warning
- forecasting dissemination
- Provision of timely and
effective information
5. Risk Management
Policies, strategies + practices
aimed at disaster risk reduction

16. BACKGROUND TEXTS: ITU-T (STANDARDS)
International Emergency Preference Scheme
(Rec.E.106 Call Preference scheme)
Interoperability of telecommunication networks (ITU-T Rec. H.323)
Overview of the requirements, features, and concept for emergency telecoms for Next Generation Networks (NGN) (ITU-T Y. 1271)
Message broadcast capability for IP systems
H.323 Multimedia and VoIP (ITU-T H )

17. New by ITU-T Common Alert Protocol (CAP)
Standard alert message format that can be used for a wide range of alert types
Including early warning and dissemination
Developed originally by OASIS
Good acceptance by industry and user communities
Currently: work item to be formally accepted within ITU-T SG 17 (Security, languages and telecommunication software)
Approval expected early 2008
Next:
Support of CAP in ITU-T defined systems
Refinements to the spec
Recommendation expected by end of May 2007

18. BACKGROUND TEXTS: ITU-R (RADIOCOMMUNICATION)
Res.646 (WRC-03): Public Protection and Disaster Relief
Encouraging regionally harmonized bands/ranges for public protection and relief.
Region 1: Mhz
Region 2: Mhz, Mhz, Mhz.
Region 3: Mhz, Mhz, / Mhz
Application of amateur and amateur satellite services (Rec. M )
Support to emergency
broadcasting, maritime and
public safety signals

19. ITU-R: DISASTER PREDICTION, DETECTION, ALERTING AND RELIEF
Disaster activities
Radiocommunication service involved
Prediction and Detection
▪Meteorological services
▪Earth exploration and satellite service
Alerting and Relief
▪Amateur services
▪Broadcasting services and satellite (radio, TV etc)
▪Fixed services terrestrial and satellite
▪Mobile services (land, satellite, maritime, etc)

20. Regionally Harmonized Bands (ITU-R)

21. BACKGROUND TEXTS: ITU-D (DEVELOPMENT)
WTDC-06 Resolution 34: “The role of telecommunications/ICT in early warning and mitigation of disasters and humanitarian assistance.”
requesting the BDT “to support administrations in their work towards the implementation of the Tampere Convention,” and ITU-D should strengthen the link between telecommunication development and disaster.
WTDC-06: ITU-D Study Group 2 (Question 22/2):
“Utilization of ICT for disaster management and active and passive space-based sensing systems as they apply to disaster prediction, detection and mitigation.”
PP-06 Resolution 36: “Telecommunications/ICT in the service of humanitarian assistance”
inviting Member States “to work towards their accession to the Tampere Convention as a matter of priority” and also,
“to take all practical steps for the application of the Tampere Convention.”
PP-06 Resolution 136:“The use of ICT for monitoring and management in emergency and disaster situations for early warning, prevention, mitigation and relief.”
To support technical studies through ITU study Groups
Support the development of robust, comprehensive, all-hazards emergency and disaster early warning, mitigation and relief systems

22. ITU-D: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS (1)
Telecommunication /ICT Development and Deployment
Incorporating resilience and reducing vulnerability
Focus on Universal Access
Training and Capacity building of Government Agencies, Radio Amateurs, NGOS, etc
Best Practices
Handbooks
Case Studies

23. ITU-D: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS (2)
Help Establish Appropriate:
Legal Framework at National, Regional and International levels
Tampere Convention ratification and implementation
Regulatory Framework
Licensing regimes
Frequency usage
Policy framework

24. ITU-D: RESPONSE AND RELIEF OPERATIONS
▪ Deployment of Satellite terminals for telemedicine and voice (disaster relief) e.g. ▪ Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Suriname, etc.
▪ Post Disaster Network Damage Assessments e.g. ▪ Indonesia, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
▪ Network Rehabilitation and GIS e.g. Indonesia

25. EXAMPLE OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT WORK
ROHDE & SCHWARZ
ITU &
ITU SECTOR
MEMBERS
THURAYA
INMARSAT
FRANCE TELECOM

26. ONGOING AND FUTURE WORK
Publication of Best Practices and Designing of Model National Emergency Plans
Compendium on ITU-T, ITU-R, and ITU-D work
Protocols for Automatic TV, Radio and Telephone on-switching capability
Back-up ICT/Telecommunication systems (satellite)
ITU Framework for Cooperation in Emergencies (IFCE)

27. ITU Framework for Cooperation in Emergencies (IFCE)
Eminent Industry
Champion
Eminent Corporate
Champion
Eminent Corporate
Champion
Finance
Cluster
▪Governments
▪Private Sector
▪Development Banks
▪Regional Economic Groups
Logistics
Cluster
▪Air Transport operators
▪International Couriers
Technology
Cluster
▪Satellite operators and Land Earth station operators
▪Telecom Operators
▪GIS/Remote sensing service providers
▪Radiocommunications Equipment Providers

28. STRATEGIES IN THE USE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR DISASTER MITIGATION
KEY
STRATEGIES IN THE USE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR DISASTER MITIGATION

29. Bridging the Gap between Rural and Urban (universal Access)
ICT should be high on the national development agenda
Introduce low-cost, affordable ICT/telecommunication technologies
ICT should provide a link for all citizens
Focus on Community based approaches rather than households (universal access rather than universal service)

30. Strategies: Embrace Convergence
Broadcasting TV
ICTs for
Disaster
Mitigation
Broadcasting
Radio
Info. Technology
Internet
Wifi, Wifi-Max
Telecoms
Fixed
Mobile

31. Strategies: Harmonize Laws and Regulations
Adoption of appropriate treaties such as the Tampere Convention
Open standards that can help interoperability of networks and prioritization of calls
The “Tampere Hall” in
Tampere Finland, where the
Treaty on Telecommunication
For Disaster Mitigation and Relief was signed on 18 June 1998.

32. Strategies: Concluding
Forge Multi-stakeholder Partnerships
Adopt relevant standards
Develop and deploy appropriate technologies
Multidisciplinary approach
Effective frequency management

33. CALL FOR PARTNERS SHARED VISION SHARED OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
RESULTING IN WIN-WIN OUTCOMES

34. THANK YOU Dr. COSMAS L. ZAVAZAVA Tel: +41 22 730 5447