Increase Disaster Management Capability Using Technology and Drones

23 Nov, 2022

Friday, November 11, 2022, the University of Surabaya Industrial Engineering held a webinar entitled "Using Drones and Technology for Disaster Management: HOW?” This event aims to educate participants about using various technologies to deal with disasters. The webinar was held online via the Zoom platform and attended by dozens of participants from the general public. Two Ubaya Industrial Engineering lecturers: Prof. Ir. Joniarto Parung, M.M.B.A.T., Ph.D., IPU. as Ubaya Professor of Supply Chain Management and Acting Head of Center of Disaster Management (BUILD Erasmus + Consortium) and Ivan Kristianto Singgih, Ph.D. as Doctor of Smart Operation Research (Pusan ​​National University, South Korea) were present as speakers in this webinar.

Joniarto said that technological advances had created vast opportunities for each individual in various aspects, including disaster management. Furthermore, he mentioned several technologies that could be used to deal with disasters: mobile phones, drones, Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV), and so on. "With a mobile phone, users can find out about a disaster that will or is happening through text messages or social media," he explained. Meanwhile, drones can be used in certain conditions where humans cannot reach them. "Then, speaking of UAVs, this technology can display disaster-affected areas so that vulnerability information can be analyzed on surrounding objects," said Joniarto. Unlike UAVs, UUVs are underwater autopilot technology. "This technology can be used to measure the intensity and direction of storms," ​​he said.

Turning to the projected technology implementation for disaster management, Ivan talked about the case in Itaewon, South Korea. "Itaewon itself is a small area, and the Halloween event caused many crowds, so many people were short of breath and asked for help," he said. However, telephone technology is not able to distribute information in a short time about the condition of the people who were at the scene. "Therefore, drones are expected to help human work when a disaster occurs, especially in locations that are not easily accessible by rescuers," explained Ivan. This is intended so that drones can provide information more quickly and accurately to related parties.

In the Q&A session, one of the participants named, Ardi, asked about ways that each individual could act as an agent of change to build long-term competence in the technology field, especially the industrial revolution 5.0. Responding to this, Joniarto explained, "We can prepare ourselves by following developments in information and technology, one of which is through the internet." Ivan added ways that can be done to form innovative power and creativity. "In order to be more innovative and creative, what we can do is read many books, master many skills, and discuss with many people in the field," explained Ivan.