Digitally Enhanced Information and Coordination System for Disaster Preparedness in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Disaster preparedness is one of the key phases of disaster management that mitigates the impact of hazards and ensures the effective response and recovery. Therefore, enhanced disaster preparedness is imperative to successfully cope with future disasters and thereby to minimise the adverse impacts. In terms of successful disaster preparedness, information and coordination systems play a major role by creating linkages among the different stakeholders and managing preparedness information. However, existing information coordination systems used in disaster preparedness of developing countries like Sri Lanka need to be enhanced by digital technologies in order to obtain successful outcomes of disaster preparedness. Therefore, under the joint collaboration of Multi-Agency Platforms for Building Resilient Communities (MOBILISE) research project and the Center for Disaster Risk Reduction at University of Moratuwa, we have researched on the nature of a digital information and coordination system that can be utilised for disaster preparedness in Sri Lanka.