Page 167 - ITU Kaleidoscope 2016

INTRICACIES OF IMPLEMENTING AN ITU-T X.1303 CROSS-AGENCY SITUATIONAL-
AWARENESS PLATFORM IN MALDIVES, MYANMAR, AND THE PHILIPPINES

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Biplov Bhandari , Angga Bayu Marthafifsa , Manzul Kumar Hazarika , Francis Boon , Lutz
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Frommberger , and Nuwan Waidyanatha 2

1. Geoinformatics Center, Asian Institute of Technology, Klong Luang, Pathumthani, Thailand
2. Sahana Software Foundation, 350 S Figueroa ST STE 437, Los Angeles, CA 90071, USA

ABSTRACT unplanned expansion of human settlements, especially in
cities, is exposing more people and economic assets to the
Maldives, Myanmar, and the Philippines are vulnerable risk of disasters and the effects of climate change [5].
to natural disasters [1]. Sendai Framework of Action calls Coastal cities are made vulnerable by the low-lying land
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for risk reduction by implementing early warning systems that are often built upon and as such are susceptible to
[2]. A prevailing challenge is for authorities to coordinate flood, storm surge, tsunami, and sea-level rise [6]. Many
warnings across disparate communication systems and coastal cities in Asia and the Pacific region are found in
autonomous organizations [3]. Cross-Agency Situational- tropical areas with hot and humid climates and low-lying
Awareness platforms and the ITU-T X.1303 Common land, both of which heighten their vulnerability to extreme
Alerting Protocol (CAP) interoperable data standards events.
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presents themselves as solution for diluting the inter-agency As a consequence of climate change, the world is facing an
rivalries and interconnection disparities [4]. The Sahana increasing threat of extreme events. Especially in
Alerting and Messaging Broker (SAMBRO) was designed to developing countries, this heavily affects equal access to
overcome these issues by providing a Common Operating opportunities and development and is a main reason for
Picture and a platform for all Stakeholders to share early poverty. As a result the Sustainable Development Goals
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warnings. To that end, the CAP-on-a-MAP project is (SDGs) emphasis on the need to reduce poverty and
implementing SAMBRO and the CAP standard along with inequalities. It also emphasizes on strengthening climate
the policies and procedures in the Maldives, Myanmar and actions and sustainable economies, communities and cities
Philippines. The project is applying an agile development [7]. Early warning systems for disaster response are critical
methodology with a design, build, test, and redesign to fighting the consequences of climate change contributing
strategy for implementing the cross-agency situational- to the factors that influence the SDGs.
awareness and warning system in the respective countries. Disaster Risk Management interventions such as
This paper discusses the country context implementation alerting/early warning, evacuation planning, and coastal
challenges and discusses strategies fostered through the zone management are important for addressing the
introduction of the CAP content standard for warning challenges faced by the coastal communities. The project
system designers to consider for overcoming similar titled “CAP on a Map” was designed to improve the
challenges. institutional responsiveness to coastal hazards in Maldives,
Myanmar, and the Philippines. It would augment the
Keywords— interoperability, electronic services, early capabilities of the National Disaster Management
warning, common alerting protocol, situational awareness Organizations (NDMOs), National Warning Centers
(NWCs), line-agencies and other relevant stakeholders in
disaster management to interchange and share early warning
1. INTRODUCTION
information.
A prevailing challenge is for NDMOs, NWCs, line-agencies
Disasters are a major problem worldwide and a serious and relevant stakeholders to coordinate and interchange
threat to sustainable development. The rapid and often alerts and warnings. To overcome this dilemma, the CAP on
a Map project introduced a Cross-Agency Situational
1 "Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction - UNISDR." Awareness platform for coordinating alerts and warnings
2015. 11 Jul. 2016 <http://www.unisdr.org/we/coordinate/sendai- and the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) content standard
framework>
for interchanging warning messages across disparate
2 "Common Alerting Protocol - Oasis." 2015. 11 Jul. 2016 systems. These are the underpinning design concepts of the
<https://docs.oasis-open.org/emergency/cap/v1.2/CAP-v1.2- Sahana Alerting and Messaging Broker (SAMBRO). In this
os.html>
The “CAP on a Map” project was made possible through the 3 "Sustainable development goals - United Nations." 2015. 11 Jul.
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and 2016 <http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-
the Pacific Trust Fund. development-goals/>

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