1. Historical Disaster Information System in Sri Lanka (Disaster Inventory Database Based on Desinventar)
Anoja Seneviratne
Director (Mitigation Research & Development)
Disaster Management Centre
Sri Lanka

2. Introduction
The Disaster Information Management System (desInventar) is a sustainable arrangement within an institution for the systematic collection, documentation and analysis of data about losses caused by natural and man maid disasters.

3. Objective
To analyze the disaster trends and their impacts in a systematic manner
To reduce the impact of disasters on the communities by planning and implementing appropriate prevention, mitigation and preparedness measures with better understanding of the disaster trends and their impacts

4. Methodology
The Disaster Information Management System (DesInventar methodology) includes a software product with two main component,
The DesInventar module
A relational and structural database through which the database is fed by filling in predefined fields (space and temporal data, types of events and causes, sources)and by both direct and indirect effects(deaths, houses, infrastructure, economic sectors).
The DesConsultar module
Allows access to the database by queries that may include relations among the diverse variables of effects, types of events, causes, sites, dates, etc. T his module allows at the same time to represent those queries with tables, graphics and thematic maps.

5. Data for Desinventra Data Collected from Media
Data Collected from Govt Reports
Desinventra Database

6. Main Data Providers DDMCU
Epidemiological Unit of the Ministry of Health
Department of Meteorology
Department of Social Services
Department of Irrigation
Department of Wildlife Conservation
Department of Fire Services of the Colombo Municipal Council
National Building Research Organization

7. No of Hazard Events -2012

8. Impact of Disasters -2012

9. Temporal Distribution of Disasters ( Based on the no of events )

10. Comparison of Incidents in 2011 & 2012
Comparison of Affected Population in 2011 & 2012

11. Summary of Incident Occurrence in 2012

12. Experienced Issues
Issues Related to Terminology (Data event / Data Card/ Disasters)
Spatial unit ( Administrative unit Divisional Level)
Not clearly define the duration of event or disaster
Strong Vertical Integration and weak horizontal integration
Less focus on damage loss assessment
Resolution and information are not enough to do detail risk assessment

13. For Sustainability…..
Mainstreaming Desinventra into different Sectors.

14. Thank You