Bhubaneswar: In a bid to offer actionable early warning information for improved disaster management, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) in collaboration with Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) has developed a system, SATARK.
SATARK has been designed as a one-stop risk management system for managing disaster profile, translating generic weather forecast data into location specific potential impacts, formulating customised advisories, communicating disaster-risk information to at-risk communities, and providing emergency contact details for people in distress to call for assistance. the facility has been launched on an experimentation basis.
The computer machine learning process of SATARK utilises data from various line departments to provide improved advisory through knowledge gained over time. “SATARK, developed using cutting edge technologies, covers lightning, earthquake, heat-wave, cyclones, floods, and drought and has been planned to cover all other hazards like road mishaps and snake bites. Using it, officials at OSDMA would be able to formulate location-specific advisories for each of these hazards and disseminate to the line departments or at-risk communities, directly from the portal, after validating of the information,” an OSDMA official familiar with system said.
With the onset of summer and subsequent soaring temperature, SATARK would use the thresholds of India Meteorological Department (IMD) and provide block-wise heat-wave alerts on a daily basis for the next ten days. “Apart from providing advisories on anticipated heat-wave condition, the system will offer suggested preventive measures to minimise the impact of heat as well,” the official explained.
The official added that timely alerts based on forecasts would ensure effective preparedness to be put in place in case of extreme heat-wave conditions. “The system is capable of automatically triggering alert to focal points identified in the district and block as and when heat-wave condition on a real-time basis. Government officials and the public can download the mobile application and stay tuned for receiving location-based heat-wave alerts,” the official pointed out.
OSDMA had signed a five-year agreement with United Nations registered international organization, RIMES, Thailand, in July 2018 for developing the system and providing operational support. “And the web-based tool is available at https://www.satark.rimes.int. Android users may download the mobile application for the same from Google Play Store,” the official added.