Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
This special report consists of a series of independent chapters organized as follows: Chapter 1 introduces the role of technology in disaster risk reduction (DRR), emphasizing the need to explicitly consider the context and discussing the close relationship between technological innovation and risk assessment methods.
Chapter 2 presents the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in DRR, describing their benefits and limitations through a series of case studies from Latin America and the Caribbean.
Chapter 3 discusses the need to adopt an inclusive approach when developing and training technologies in order to increase their adoption and ensure they are responsive to local needs.
Chapter 4 highlights the benefits of adopting technologies in activities related to multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS), indicating that the introduction and adoption of relatively simple technologies based on Indigenous and local knowledge can yield high life-saving benefits.
Finally, Chapter 5 explores how certain communication systems, such as social media, have contributed to reducing disaster risk. It also examines the challenges regarding the accuracy and validity of information during and in the aftermath of a disaster that AI and ML can help to solve.
Some chapters include a series of case studies that highlight the power of digital tools. In most cases, benefits have been identified at the local level—where DRR must be implemented—but it is also essential to recognize that fostering cooperation, information exchange, and the sharing of best practices can maximize the benefits of these tools.