UR2020 # Emerging technologies

   Landslides: the Next Frontier of Hazard Early Warning Organizer: Met Office Landslides are complex hazards that affect many areas of the world and cause significant loss of life and damage. Landslide early warning systems provide an opportunity to generate information in advance of such events, allowing for early actions that can reduce risks and…

   Mapathons, movement data, machine-learning – oh my! A ‘jam session’ on geospatial data innovations and how to use them Organizer: Mapbox, MIT Urban Risk Lab, Youth Innovation Lab Nepal, Thinking Machines, First Street Foundation The world of data sources that are useful for the assessment and communication of risk is expanding rapidly. New and…

   Carousel talks: Latest developments in the science and technology for early warning early action – Researchers Edition Organizer: Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre In this session we will have a carousel of humanitarian scientists from all over the world presenting the latest advancements in anticipatory action, early warning and early action systems. Speakers:Tim…

   Pathways to Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Organizer: RMSI By 2050, 7 out of 10 people across the globe will be living in urban areas. Rising urbanization forces will drive current and future investment towards infrastructure. History tells us that in most cases, settlements precede infrastructure development. This leads to tremendous challenges especially when coupled with…

   Virtual Reality and Training for Emergency Responders in a Post-COVID-19 Era Organizer: Singapore Civil Defense Force The landscape of training for the emergency response fraternity has evolved in parallel with the development of technology, from the advent of computers and the proliferation of digital and immersive technologies. Innovation in the area of tactical and…

   SSTL x The World Bank HADR Challenge Pitching Session Organizer: Singapore Space and Technology Limited (SSTL), Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF) The application of satellite technology and its increasing role in providing quick, accurate and effective response to frequent and complex disaster situations is evident. Across the world, countries have recognised the…

   A planet remade? How solar geoengineering may deliberately change (y)our climate – and how we understand risk Organizer: Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre We are entering the era of climate change consequences. Regional and local impacts are becoming more manifest. An increasingly feasible technological option that was once seen as crazy and taboo…

   Implementing real-time disaster risk models: Collaborations across government, non-profits, academia and private sector in Mozambique and the Bahamas Organizer: Direct Relief, Facebook Data for Good, Pacific Disaster Center, Harvard School of Public Health During the response to Cyclones Idai and Kenneth in Mozambique, and Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas, new collaborations emerged to support…

     Access the past and foretell the future: Peering into the crystal ball of early action Organizer: NASA and IFRC From earth observations and weather forecasts to machine learning and predictive modeling, the science and technology of today enables people and organizations to collect decades of data and improve our understanding of future risks….

   How disaster risk data is driving public investment in Haiti Organizer: CKIC + IDRC +GIZ Haiti is one of the most exposed country to natural disaster. Geo-spatial data and risk information have been used to improving the density of shelter and their geographic distribution. In this session we will present how the problem has…

   From black swans to boiling frogs: How to understand risk, visualize risk scenarios, and build agency for early action Organizer: NASA and Earth Observatory of Singapore A myriad of risks exist, but it is our understanding and action in regard to these events that often lead to greater loss of lives and to livelihoods….

   Evaluating COVID-19 transmission in cities: The COVID-19 City Disaster Vulnerability Index Organizer: World Bank Most governments around the world continue to grapple with containing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and determining appropriate measures to keep economies running with minimum costs to health systems and livelihoods. As with disaster risk, one thing we are…

   Catching fire: Evolving wildfire response for catastrophic events Organizer: World Bank This moderated panel discussion will bring together global wildfire and disaster management leaders to explore technological innovations, share practical insights and explore meaningful solutions to the growing challenge of catastrophic wildfires. As the climate changes, the world has marked a significant increase in…

   Taking the risk out of using risk profiles: The Risk Viewer tool for Latin America and Caribbean Organizer: World Bank A large number of disaster risk profiles exist that can be used for a variety of purposes: to evaluate the impact of disasters, inform risk reduction measures, assess fiscal impact of disasters and catalyze…

   Responsible artificial intelligence (AI) for disaster risk management As the Understanding Risk Community continues to explore the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence and related technologies and expand the range of applications for which they are used, we need to pay close attention to the risks that these tools create. Significant attention is currently being…

   Surviving natural hazards through gameplay Organizer: art-science-media.com, SERNAGEOMIN, Universitat de Barcelona Using the Earth Girl Volcano free casual strategy game as a case study, this session examines a people-centric approach to providing populations at risk with a science-based but engaging set of effective survival tools. Topics include game design, scientific foundations, and field work….

   How big is your appetite (for making a difficult decision)? Organizer: Satarla Aligning organisations on “how much risk is too much risk” is key to rapid and robust decision making, especially in times of stress. This is often addressed through regulation as “risk appetite and tolerance”…. But what does this actually mean? More than…

   Resilience Academy as a sustainability solution for urban resilience skills development in Africa Organizer: University of Turku – Finland, Ardhi University – Dar es Salaam, Sokoine University of Agriculture – Zanzibar, University of Dar es Salaam – Dar es Salaam, State University of Zanzibar – Morogoro, World Bank Tanzania. Urbanisation challenges Africa’s young labour…

   Carousel talks: Latest developments in the science and technology for early warning early action – Student Edition Organizer: Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre In this session we will have a carousel of young scientists from the SHEAR program presenting the latest advancements in anticipatory action, early warning and early action systems. Speakers:Neeraj Sah,…

   Precipitation in Africa: the future of observation, nowcasting and forecasting On the world’s fastest urbanizing continent, Africa, urban floods are a big and growing problem. Early warning is the first important step in flood risk management. This requires continuous and reliable precipitation measurements and forecasts, which are not always available in African cities. Four…

   The Risk Data Library Project: Developing an open standard for risk data Organizer: Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery GFDRR Disaster risk assessments are more important than ever, but common issues with risk data interoperability mean we are not maximizing their value for reducing risk to the most vulnerable populations and countries. The…

   Disruptive Tech for Africa: tracking the latest urbanization trends with local validation Organizer: University of Twente, DLR, MindEarth, Ardhi University / Resilience Academy African cities are challenged by rapid uncontrolled urbanization. Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the world’s fastest urbanizing regions. Urban areas were home 472 million people in 2017, and are expected to…

   Acting early before disasters: What can go wrong? Organizer: Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre The evidence is irrefutable: Humor can help improve communication, build relationships, enhance problem solving, increase productivity, and strengthen leadership. Because our work requires creative learning and dialogue, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre has been working with partners…

   Geo-powering Cities for Resilience Organizer: World Bank’s City Planning Labs This session is part of the Development & Climate Days. The urban data revolution has already started. Over the last decade, cities have been offered unprecedented opportunities to mobilize geospatial data to enhance livability and reduce vulnerability through risk-informed decision making. Data is helping…

   Expert collaboration to support disaster risk financing: Developing new models and views of risk Organizer: AIR Worldwide Progress towards closing the protection gap will require collaboration between experts across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to quickly develop and deploy new models. This session will review successful case studies to demonstrate the benefits of this expert…

   Getting hotter? Screening public investment projects for climate change using digital mapping platforms Organizer: Singapore Swiss Technical University Centre The session presents the insights gained from combining an institutional public investment management lens with an on-line applied digital mapping technology screening. The session will engage on the why, what and how urban rural (ur)…