Print
Before going any further, I'd like you to consider the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires in Australia. I focus on event because it has prompted a major National Review of disaster and emergency management arrangements. The Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Arrangements released their final report at the end of last year. Royal Commissions are basically a big investigation that relies on submissions from all kinds of stakeholders, from academics, to frontline workers, to citizens. This process results in a series of recommendations that the government considers. While the bushfires prompted this review, the recommendations take a multi-hazard approach. So, how can you manage fires, smoke, heatwaves, floods, cyclones in a more coordinated way.
I'd like you to look at a few sections of this report and also keep it on hand as we go through the course. It has a lot of information relevant to the topics we cover, albeit we are exploring geospatial dimensions in greater depth. First, have a look at some photos and videos from the Bushfire History Project (below) to get a feel for what happened last year.
2019-20 Bushfire History Project - Fires (3:51 minutes)
No Audio - images only
2019-20 Bushfire History Project - Damage (2:54 minutes)
No Audio - images only
2019-20 Bushfire History Project - Recovery (2:06 minutes)
No Audio - images only
Now, look at the download the report from this direct link or go to the Commission's website.
Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements Report
Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements Appendices
Please read the following sections (don't worry if these seem a bit technical given you just started the course):
- Forward - page 5-7
- The 2019-20 disaster season - page 19
- Disasters have changed & We need to act on multiple fronts - page 22
- A national picture needs national data - page 28-29
- The impact of natural disasters on essential services (Figure 35) - page 227-229
- Mental health and natural disasters - page 345-348
- Earth observation systems - page 498
I'd like you to consider a few questions (nothing to submit now!):
- From these sections of the report, does anything jump out at you with regard to data needs in emergency management?
- Do you think the Australia situation is similar to your home country?
- From what you know so far (and it is early in the course!) do you think geospatial data is most useful for:
- Preparing for a disaster?
- Responding when it is in progress?
- Recovering and rebuilding?
I hope this has provided a concrete and current picture of the complexity of emergency management. I'll refer you back to the Royal Commission report later in the class.