Post-disaster Recovery Management and Coordination Program. Case: Myanmar Cyclone Nargis

Transcription

1 Post-disaster Recovery Management and Coordination Program Case: Myanmar Cyclone Nargis 2008 Contact: Wireless 'DUMBO' turns ordinary laptops/ PDAs into live-saving network and a platform for effective recovery management Background 2 May a deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit Myanmar which devastated five divisions and states Yangon, Bago, Ayeyarwaddy, Kayin and Mon, of which Ayeyarwaddy and Yangon sustained the heaviest casualties and infrastructural damages. Affected coastal towns in the southwestern Ayeyarwaddy division include Haing Gyi Island, Pathein, Myaungmya, Laputta, Mawlamyinegyun, Kyaiklat, Phyar Pon, Bogalay etc. Myanmar declared the five divisions and states as natural-disaster-hit regions a day after the cyclone hit the country. A total of 40 townships in Yangon division and 7 townships in Ayeyarwaddy division have still remained as the natural-disaster-hit areas status where relief and rehabilitation works are being carried out promptly. Introduction The Internet Education and Research Laboratory (interlab) at Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand has put together networking technology for a post-disaster recovery conditions which can be used for the management and effective coordination among field workers of local government agencies and NGOs. Known as DUMBO, it stands for Digital Ubiquitous Mobile Broadband OLSR. (OSLR is a networking term meaning Optimized Link State Routing.) DUMBO can deploy mobile wireless network on an ad hoc (MANET) basis for emergency conditions such in a postdisaster period when a fixed network infrastructure is not available or had been destroyed. In this emergency network, the mobile nodes can communicate directly among themselves using voice over IP (VoIP) and SMS messages. Streaming video can be sent from each node to the central coordination unit, which can then broadcast to all nodes in the network. The central unit can be located either in the disaster areas or anywhere in the Internet or Intranet. AIT s interlab would like to propose the coordination plan for the post-disaster recovery management which is useful in handling of relief, recovery and resettlement activities aftermath of Nargin Cyclone. AIT DUMBO team will support Myanmar and work along with local field workers as well as provide hands-on trainings to them to be able to make the best use the system and its facilities. Our coordination program consists of two parts: Phase I Introductory of DUMBO and its facilities to help handle the authorities the disaster, and extension of the MANET networks

2 into disaster areas, Phase II Utilization of MANET networks in disaster areas by government agencies and local NGOs. Our idea is to turn ordinary computers such as laptops and PDAs, to network devices without having to acquire special hardware. Any guest computer, with simple software installation and configuration, can join in and be a part of the DUMBO network. On this network, we will install EasyDC software for emergency communications which enables VOIP and short messages applications. DUMBO is a joint research project led by the Internet Research and Education Lab of AIT, the HIPERCOM Project of INRIA (France) and the WIDE Project (Japan). What is DUMBO? DUMBO deploys mobile wireless network on an ad hoc basis for emergency conditions, such as after a natural disaster when a fixed network infrastructure is not available or had been destroyed. A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) consists of mobile nodes that automatically cooperate to support the exchange of information among the nodes through wireless medium. Since the MANET does not rely on fixed telecommunication infrastructure, the MANET is suitable for emergency situations and can be set up within a relatively short amount of time. Using lightweight portable mobile nodes, MANET coverage can stretch out and penetrate deep into areas not easily accessible by roads or into areas where telecommunication infrastructure has been destroyed. How DUMBO can help DUMBO allows streaming video, VoIP and short messages to be simultaneously transmitted from a number of mobile laptops to the central command center, or to the other rescuers at the same or different disaster sites. The DUMBO command center has a face recognition module that identifies potential matches between unknown victims face photos taken from the field and a collection of known face images stored at the command center. The command center can flexibly be located either in the disaster areas or anywhere with Internet access. Rescue workers can communicate among each other using VoIP or short messages. In case that there exists a wide area wireless network such as satellite links, streaming VDO can be sent from each mobile site to the central coordination unit. Similarly commands from central co-ordination unit can be broadcast to all mobile sites. The central co-ordination unit can be anywhere in the Internet cloud. Benefits of DUMBO deployment Since MANETs do not rely on fixed telecommunication infrastructure, they are suitable for emergency situations and can be set up within relatively short time and with little effort. With mobile nodes, the network can be stretched out or extended to penetrate deeper into areas not easily accessible by roads.

3 DUMBO can bring the following benefit: - Emergency network for rescue operations - Coordinated Control/ Command and Information sharing - Interaction with field workers/ camp authorities in real-time - Video streaming, VoIP, Text messaging among MANETs (between Central Coordination Unit and Remote camps if there is IPStar Satellite connection.) - Data Security Deployment Plan (Phase-1, Introducing DUMBO) Part I: 1 Weeks (7 days) - Hands-on training for Myanmar IT Engineers at interlab/ait, Thailand. Part II: 11 Weeks (77 days) - DUMBO Deployment in Myanmar o Setting up Command/Control center and Remote Sites o Project DUMBO Hands-on Training for local agencies and field workers by Myanmar IT Engineers trained at interlab/ait. o Local engineers involvement in DUMBO operation o 24 hours communication channels: Video Streaming, Video Conference, VoIP and short messages - Extension of networks to further remote sites, if necessary. - 1~2 experts and coordinators make onsite technical or at least three times during this phase and onsite/remote troubleshoot assistance whenever necessary. End of DUMBO Phase 1. Deployment requirements - IPStar satellite stations & connection (With permission to use existing IPStar connection in Yangon) (3 Units) - VPN Server (Desktop PC) (3 Units) - Wireless Switch Access Points (6 Units) - EeePC ASUS 8G w/ Build-in Webcam (30 Units) - Point-2-Point Wireless Antenna (9 Units) - Omni Directional Antenna (15 Units) - Microclient w/1gb Memory (60 Units) - Portable Power Generators (6 Units) - Battery + Invertors (6 Units) - Network cables and computer appliances - PC for Sahana (Missing Persons Database System) Linux Server (3 Units) + AS MANY INTERNET TABLETS (NOKIA) and as many laptops as possible

4 Deployment: Sample Setup Diagram Available Functions at HQ (if IPStar Satellite connection is available) Command/Control and Information Sharing Video Streaming, VoIP, Text Messages for common coordination problems: Expected Users - Government Authority Groups - Civil Society (authorized organization in the fields) - Medical and Technical Advisors

5 - Missing People Registry - Manage Aid - Manage NGOs and Volunteers - Tracking Camps - Medical and Technical advising to remote users Available Functions at MANET Command/Control and Information Sharing in the same MANET or with other MANET and HQ Video Streaming, VoIP, Text Messages for common coordination problems: - Search & Rescue Missing People - Missing People Registry - Manage Aid - Manage NGOs and Volunteers - Tracking Camps Expected Users - Government Authority Groups - Civil Society (authorized organization in the fields) - Medical Team members, Field Technicians etc. List of Partners - Asia Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC) - Asia Pacific Networking Group (APNG) - DotAsia Organization - SOI-Asia - T.H.NIC Co., Ltd. - WIDE Project URL: At this stage, we are planning to investigate if Sahana can function well in our DUMBO environment. Sahana is a free and open source disaster management system that grew out of the 2004 Asian Tsunami disaster. In Sri Lanka, volunteers put together the Sahana Disaster Management System to help track families and coordinate work among relief organizations during and after the tsunami disaster. Sahana has been deployed in government, NGO, UN and volunteer community level in many countries including Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Peru, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and more. Please find more information about Sahana in Appendix II.

6 APPENDIX I: Estimated Budget for DUMBO Deployment to Myanmar Post-disaster Recovery Management and Coordination Program Phase-I (Introducing DUMBO to Myanmar) Equipments required for deployment (with Satellite Connection) No. Description MANET1 MANET2 MANET3 Unit Unit Uni Unit US$ US$ IPStar Station ,500 New Sets Installation from IPStar Myanmar IPStar Connection Fee for 3 months ,800 Desktop as VPN Server ,000 Not EeePC but w/ higher specs Wireless Switch accesspoint EeePC as client for MANET ,850 Total for Phase-1 Point-2-Point Wireless Antenna ,800 Extra long range km. Omni-directional Antenna ,000 Microclient+1GB Memory ,000 Portable Generator (for power backup) ,000 6,000 Battery+Inverter ,800 Locally available Network Cable and appliances Some are locally available PC for Linux Server ,000 1,000 MANET1 serves as HQ Air Cargo for equipments & supplies 2 1,250 2,500 Travels (Myanmar Engineers) ,500 One week training at interlab/ait Meals + Accommodation + Mis. (Myanmar Engineers) ,000 One week training at interlab/ait Travels (APNIC Staff) 2 1,500 3,000 Trainers -- Hands-on training for ME at interlab/ait Meals + Accommodation + Mis. (APNIC) 2 1,100 2,200 Trainers -- Hands-on training for ME at interlab/ait Coordinating Team (2 members) travels (AIT ERCO/intERLab) ,400 Meeting & Coordination with local authorities Local Transportation (AIT ERCO/intERLab Coordinating team ) ,500 Unit Price Value Remark

7 Meals + Accommodation + Mis. (AIT ERCO/intERLab Coordinating Team) ,800 Communications cost 1 2,000 2,000 IDD, FAX etc. Report preparation/ Documentation Volunteers' Wages ,500 Contingency 1 5,000 5,000 Three Short visits (3-day) for AIT Coordinators (ERCO/intERLab) Donation (Food & Supplies) for Disaster Victims ,000 6,000 (Optional) Three Disaster Sites Total 101,550 Donation of Linux-based PDAs and laptops (new/ used with good condition) are welcome. Remarks: This scenerio is with satellite connection. MANET1 serves as HQ. MANETs shall be deployed at any three locations such as Yangon, Phyar Pone, Bogalay, Latputta, Nga Bu Daw etc. List of Equipments (Phase I) - IPStar satellite stations & connection (3 Units) - VPN Server (Desktop PC) (3 Units) - Wireless Switch Access Points (6 Units) - EeePC ASUS 8G w/ Build-in Webcam (30 Units) - Point-2-Point Wireless Antenna (9 Units) - Omni Directional Antenna (15 Units) - Microclient w/1gb Memory (60 Units) - Portable Power Generators (6 Units) - Battery + Invertors (6 Units) - Network cables and computer appliances - Linux Servers (3 Units) + AS MANY INTERNET TABLETS (NOKIA) and as many laptops as possible

8 APPENDIX II: What is SAHANA? Sahana is a free and open source disaster management system that grew out of the 2004 Asian Tsunami disaster. In Sri Lanka, volunteers put together the Sahana Disaster Management System to help track families and coordinate work among relief organizations during and after the tsunami disaster. Sahana has been deployed in government, NGO, UN and volunteer community level in many countries including Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Peru, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and more. How SAHANA can help Sahana Disaster Management System consists of several modules enabling it to manage various aspects of disaster situations. Following is a brief description about main modules. - Missing Person Registry - Report and search people missing due to disaster incidents. This module will function as online dash board in managing missing persons. - Disaster Victim Registry - Traces internally displaced or injured people. This module is designed to be used by the officials engaged in disaster victim identification process. - Organization Registry - Coordination of the relief organizations' activities in a particular disaster affected region. This module will allow set of key organizations (e.g. Government/Ministries etc) to monitor and regulate the activities of volunteer organizations - Request/Aid Management - Tracks requests for aid and matches them against donors who have pledged aid - Shelter Registry - Tracks the location, capacity and composition of shelters or the camps - Inventory Management Management of relief aid and inventories - Aid Catalog Management of catalogs and measurement units - Synchronization - Data exchange between Sahana instances Sahana can be deployed as a high-end web server as well as a portable application runs on the USB mass storage devices (USB pen drives), independent of network access. Benefits of Sahana deployment Sahana is a collection of web-based disaster management applications that provides solutions to large-scale humanitarian coordination and collaboration in disaster situation and its aftermath. - SMS, alerts and/or messages to various groups and individuals; - Keeping track of all the relief organizations working in the disaster areas; - Capturing organizational information of a relief organization and all the activities they have in the field operations; - Online bulletin board of missing and found people; and - Data repository where information on all the disaster victims and families, especially identified casualties, evacuees and displaced people can be stored.

9 Deployment plan: In the early phase of a disaster, particularly an incident like current Myanmar Cyclone there are high numbers of missing disaster victims. So is the need of coordinating the activities of various relief organizations. Following Sahana modules can be recommended to be deployed in such situations. Disaster Victim Registry Manage disaster victims: dead, alive or injured Missing Person Registry Dashboard for missing and found people Organization Registry Tracks the activity of relief organizations Deployment requirements: Following basic requirements are necessary for the successful deployment of the Sahana. Apache HTTP server in a Linux or Windows environment PHP version 5 with GD2, MySQL and Gettex support MySQL version 5 Deployment option: Linux based server at DUMBO Control/Command center Apart from the server-based option, Sahana portable application can be distributed among relief workers in UBS mass storage devices. This will enable working with Sahana even if the internet connectivity is not available and data in each Portable application can be synchronized off-line.