Integration of Digital Technologies in Disaster Preparedness

Name: Integration of Digital Technologies in Disaster Preparedness
Start: 2022-05-16
End: 2022-05-27
Location: India

16 - 27 May 2022

Kerala, India

Overview
Schedule

The so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution has entered all spheres of human life. However, in disaster management and disaster risk reduction the huge potential of modern technologies is still underexploited. The Disasters and Conflicts Branch of UNEP therefore raises awareness and builds capacity for the employment of technologies that can facilitate effective preparation and response mechanisms to reduce the risks that emerge from natural disasters.

In this context, UNEP is partnering with the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology and the University of Southampton, UK who organise through the British Council a two-week knowledge workshop on “Integration of Digital technologies in Disaster Preparedness”. The workshop aims to address the lack of understanding and absence of requisite skills that hinder the broad application of digital technologies in combating disasters.

The event is directed to governmental officials, faculty members, students and others interested in the employment of modern technologies in disaster management. By involving participants in interactive sessions with technical knowledge, managerial skills as well as testimonials of practical experience, the event aims to deepen the understanding of the audience on the complexities of digital technologies - especially Artificial Intelligence - and equip them for informed and competed decision making in this field.

Major domains of discussion will be: 

Learning aiding response & recovery 
Visual perspective of disasters 
Robots and Drones to the rescue

Speech as an aid 
Emergency networking through Trial and Error 
Disaster Management and related Challenges 
Understanding and modelling uncertainty 
Queuing and inventory models

Optimising and simulating logistics operations under uncertainty 
Logistics issues in humanitarian operations

The workshop is composed of multiple 90 min sessions delivered over 2 weeks and it will take place in a hybrid format. UNEP will chair the opening session giving an introductory overview of the current state, challenges and opportunities of modern technology used in disaster management.

Learn more about the event through this flyer.

Who's speaking

Paula Padrino Vilela

Project Coordinator, Disasters and Conflicts Branch, UNEP

Paula PADRINO VILELA is presently leading UNEP’s activities related to Modern Technologies in Disaster Management as well as Project Management During Emergencies – in her capacity as Project Coordinator within the Disasters and Conflicts Branch. In addition to overseeing and running these two projects, Paula also provides help and assistance in post conflict environmental assessments.

Paula has accumulated over three years of professional experience in the humanitarian and human rights fields, working for major international organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN.

She possesses an LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (Geneva, Switzerland). In addition, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from the Universidad Europea de Madrid (Madrid, Spain). During her studies Paula obtain several certificates undertaking exchanges programmes in Pace University (NYC, USA), LUMSA (Rome, Italy), and London School of Economics (London, UK).
Preeti Banzal

Adviser/ Scientist ‘G’, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India

Dr Preeti Banzal is currently working as Adviser/ Scientist ‘G’, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.She earlier served as Director (Future Networks) in Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical research and standardization arm of Department of Telecommunications under Ministry of Communications, India.
She holds a PhD degree in Disaster Communication and Early Warning Systems.

She has about 27 years of experience working in Telecommunication Policy Making, Standardization, Emergency Communications, Telecom Project Management, Corporate Restructuring, Capacity Building and Trainings Management. During her stint with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

She has been involved in steering activities for the formulation of National Policy Guidelines and Plans related to Disaster Risk Management. She has significantly contributed for design and development of many work proposals, project designs, emergency Mock drills/exercises, Incident Response System trainings, advanced trauma life support trainings in collaboration with: UNFPA, UNDMT, universities /institutes on Disaster Management and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre, New Delhi, India.

Her engagement with ITU-T extends to SG12, SG16, FGAI4H, FGAI4EE and ITU-D SG2, Q5/2 on Utilization of telecommunications/ ICT for disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response. She is the author of a book titled “DISASTER COMMUNICATION AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS”. In addition, she has written several papers and articles on diverse topics. As Director (Future Networks) in TEC, presently she is working for standardisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by creating India Stack for AI.

16 May 2022

14:00

Kerala (and online)

Integration of Digital technologies in Disaster Preparedness UNEP is partnering with the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology and the University of Southampton, UK who organise through the British Council a two-week knowledge workshop on “Integration of Digital technologies in Disaster Preparedness”. The workshop aims to address the lack of understanding and absence of requisite skills that hinder the broad application of digital technologies in combating disasters.

The event is directed to governmental officials, faculty members, students and others interested in the employment of modern technologies in disaster management. By involving participants in interactive sessions with technical knowledge, managerial skills as well as testimonials of practical experience, the event aims to deepen the understanding of the audience on the complexities of digital technologies - especially Artificial Intelligence - and equip them for informed and competed decision making in this field.

The workshop is composed of multiple 90 min sessions delivered over 2 weeks and it will take place in a hybrid format. On the 16th of May, at 2pm IST (10.30am CET), UNEP will chair the opening session giving an introductory overview of the current state, challenges and opportunities of modern technology used in disaster management.

Paula Padrino Vilela Project Coordinator, Disasters and Conflicts Branch, UNEP

Paula PADRINO VILELA is presently leading UNEP’s activities related to Modern Technologies in Disaster Management as well as Project Management During Emergencies – in her capacity as Project Coordinator within the Disasters and Conflicts Branch. In addition to overseeing and running these two projects, Paula also provides help and assistance in post conflict environmental assessments.

Paula has accumulated over three years of professional experience in the humanitarian and human rights fields, working for major international organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN.

She possesses an LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (Geneva, Switzerland). In addition, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from the Universidad Europea de Madrid (Madrid, Spain). During her studies Paula obtain several certificates undertaking exchanges programmes in Pace University (NYC, USA), LUMSA (Rome, Italy), and London School of Economics (London, UK).

Preeti Banzal Adviser/ Scientist ‘G’, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India

Dr Preeti Banzal is currently working as Adviser/ Scientist ‘G’, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.She earlier served as Director (Future Networks) in Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical research and standardization arm of Department of Telecommunications under Ministry of Communications, India.
She holds a PhD degree in Disaster Communication and Early Warning Systems.

She has about 27 years of experience working in Telecommunication Policy Making, Standardization, Emergency Communications, Telecom Project Management, Corporate Restructuring, Capacity Building and Trainings Management. During her stint with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

She has been involved in steering activities for the formulation of National Policy Guidelines and Plans related to Disaster Risk Management. She has significantly contributed for design and development of many work proposals, project designs, emergency Mock drills/exercises, Incident Response System trainings, advanced trauma life support trainings in collaboration with: UNFPA, UNDMT, universities /institutes on Disaster Management and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre, New Delhi, India.

Her engagement with ITU-T extends to SG12, SG16, FGAI4H, FGAI4EE and ITU-D SG2, Q5/2 on Utilization of telecommunications/ ICT for disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response. She is the author of a book titled “DISASTER COMMUNICATION AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS”. In addition, she has written several papers and articles on diverse topics. As Director (Future Networks) in TEC, presently she is working for standardisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by creating India Stack for AI.

Did you know?

If oceans were a country, they would be the seventh largest economy in the world.

Subscribe to the UNEP newsletter