Natural disasters and crises, such as COVID-19, cyclones and road carnages many times disproportionately affect the poor and vulnerable populations.
The impact of these disasters can be devastating, leaving behind a trail of destruction, displacement and loss of life.
With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), disaster response efforts can be enhanced, saving lives and reducing the suffering of affected communities.
Below mentioned are some of the disasters and how AI can be used as a game changer.
Floods: AI-driven sensors can monitor water levels and predict flood risk, helping authorities evacuate people and deploy resources.
Earthquakes: AI-powered systems can analyze seismic data to predict earthquake likelihood and magnitude, enabling early warning systems and evacuation plans.
Landslides: AI-powered sensors can monitor soil moisture and detect landslide risk, enabling evacuation and mitigation measures.
Wildfires: AI-powered drones can detect wildfires early, while AI algorithms predict fire spread and optimize firefighting efforts.
Tsunamis: AI-powered systems can analyze ocean sensor data to predict tsunami risk and alert authorities.
Volcanic eruptions: AI-powered sensors can monitor volcanic activity and predict eruption likelihood, enabling evacuation and ashfall mitigation.
Heatwaves: AI-powered systems can predict heatwave risk and alert authorities to deploy heatwave mitigation measures.
Droughts: AI-powered sensors can monitor soil moisture and predict drought risk, enabling water conservation efforts.
Chemical spills: AI-powered sensors can detect chemical spills and predict their spread, enabling rapid response and mitigation.
Nuclear accidents: AI-powered sensors can detect radiation levels and predict accident severity, enabling rapid response and evacuation.
In this write up, the writer will explore how AI can assist the poor in areas of disaster response and how AI was used during COVID-19, and how AI was used after Cyclone Idai and road carnages in Zimbabwe.
AI in Disaster Response
AI can revolutionise disaster response by providing critical insights, enhancing decision-making, and optimising resource allocation.
Here are some ways AI can help:
- Predictive Analytics: AI algorithms can analyze historical data, weather patterns, and other factors to predict the likelihood of a disaster occurring. This enables authorities to take proactive measures, evacuating people and allocating resources accordingly.
- Real-time Monitoring: AI-powered sensors and drones can provide real-time monitoring of disaster-affected areas, helping responders to identify areas of need and allocate resources effectively.
- Resource Optimisation: AI can optimize resource allocation, ensuring that the right resources are deployed to the right areas at the right time.
- Damage Assessment: AI-powered satellite imagery can assess damage to infrastructure, homes, and crops, helping authorities to prioritize response efforts.
- Communication: AI-powered chatbots can facilitate communication between responders, affected communities, and authorities, ensuring that critical information is shared efficiently.
COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, AI played a crucial role in:
Predictive modeling: AI algorithms predicted the spread of the virus, enabling authorities to take proactive measures.
Contact tracing: AI-powered contact tracing apps helped identify potential cases, reducing the spread of the virus.
Vaccine distribution: AI optimised vaccine distribution, ensuring that vaccines reached high-risk areas first.
Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe
After Cyclone Idai struck Zimbabwe in 2019, AI was used to:
- Assess damage: AI-powered satellite imagery assessed damage to infrastructure and homes.
- Optimize relief efforts: AI helped allocate resources, ensuring that aid reached affected areas efficiently.
Road Carnage
AI can help reduce road carnage by:
- Predictive analytics: AI algorithms can predict high-risk areas and times, enabling authorities to deploy resources accordingly.
- Real-time monitoring: AI-powered sensors can monitor road conditions, detecting potential hazards and alerting authorities.
There have been several major road carnage incidents in Zimbabwe that could have been avoided or mitigated with the use of AI:
- 2016 Harare-Masvingo Highway Accident: 12 people died and 20 were injured when a bus collided with a truck. AI-powered traffic management could have optimized traffic flow and reduced congestion, preventing the accident.
- 2017 Masvingo Road Accident: 15 people died and 30 were injured when a bus crashed into a tree. AI-powered driver monitoring could have detected the driver’s fatigue and alerted him to take a break.
- 2018 Gweru Bus Accident: 21 people died and 40 were injured when a bus collided with a truck. AI-powered real-time monitoring could have detected the vehicles’ speeds and positions, alerting them to avoid the collision.
- 2019 Nyanga Bus Disaster: 24 people died and 53 were injured when a bus crashed into a tree. AI-powered sensors could have detected the bus’s speed and alert the driver to slow down.
- 2020 Hurungwe Bus Crash: 16 people died and 40 were injured when a bus overturned. AI-powered predictive analytics could have identified the high-risk road segment and alerted authorities to deploy additional safety measures.
These tragic incidents highlight the potential of AI in preventing or mitigating road carnage in Zimbabwe.
By leveraging AI, authorities can enhance road safety and reduce the number of accidents on the country’s roads.
AI has the potential to revolutionise disaster response, saving lives and reducing the suffering of affected communities.
Authorities can enhance predictive analytics, real-time monitoring, resource optimisation, damage assessment, and communication.
As we move forward, it is essential to invest in AI research and development for disaster response, ensuring better preparedness to face future crises.
AI’s applications in disaster response are vast, and its integration can lead to more efficient and effective disaster management, saving lives and reducing damage.