SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES

GEM 801

ONLINE CLASS CASE 3

PHILIPPINES NATURAL CALAMITY DISASTER:
What technology can we use to mitigate
these calamities and disasters?

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

SY 2019-2020
1st Trimester

Prepared by:

Angeline Mae Santos

Johnny Jose Pura
Kenneth John Billy Tarayao

Submitted to:

Dr. Ronaldo A. Tan

PROFESSOR
PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY

ABOUT EYE4CALAMITY
(SUMMARY)

The EYE4CALAMITY app was developed by Angeline Mae Santos, Johnny Jose Pura and Kenneth John
Billy Tarayao in cooperation with the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council.

As a result of the increasing intensity and frequency of disasters happening around the world, the need for
tools that will not only strengthen public awareness on the importance of disaster preparedness, but also
facilitate a nationwide system for disaster response and management, is underscored.

EYE4CALAMITY app, is a pro-active, comprehensive and rational disaster management mobile application,
it serves a communication tool to help reduce and mitigate the disastrous effects of natural and human-made
hazards to vulnerable communities with the help of mobile technologies.

The mobile app can be used to give government agencies, organizations and individuals, immediate access
to disaster warnings, advisories, location data, and disaster mappings. It features step-by-step instructions
that can guide users to safety during disasters. The app also enables users to contribute information to
emergency agencies more easily and quickly.

The group of developers continue to explore ways to inform the public on disaster risk reduction and
management measures and systems to help save lives and properties. With this mobile application, we have
added another strategy to reach out to people with helpful tools right at their fingertips.

One of the main mission of the EYE4CALAMITY app is to support initiatives that utilize the mobile phone
as a tool for disaster preparedness. These days, almost everyone has a mobile phone, and this can be a valuable
lifeline during emergencies.

With EYE4CALAMITY app, the mobile phone now becomes a handy electronic resource that the public can
use in times of emergencies. It provides basic information on how to reduce one’s vulnerability during
disasters. It may also be used as a learning tool for preparedness for individuals, their families, and entire
communities before, during, and after disasters.

EYE4CALAMITY app is designed to run on smartphones and other mobile devices. It may be downloaded
for free of charge via the App Store (for iOS devices), and the Google Play Store (for devices running on the
Android operating system).

The country has become more vulnerable than ever to disasters, and the safety of the community is no longer
the sole responsibility of the government. Even ordinary people can do their part by sharing accurate on-
ground information that could help save lives, and proactively seek safety during disasters using their mobile
device. This is what we hoped to achieve with EYE4CALAMITY app.

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FEATURE OF EYE4CALAMITY app:
1. Real-time update on the status of a calamity.

It provides real-time access to web‐based disaster information systems and related coordination tools.
A more detailed description of global disaster alert and coordination system purpose, content and guidelines,
agreed and approved by the steering committee.

EYE4CALAMITY Disaster Alerts, which are issued and disseminated to some 100,000,000 subscribers
immediately following sudden-onset disasters. The automatic estimates and risk analysis–the basis of the
alerts –are provided by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

It is a restricted online platform for real-time information exchange and cooperation among all actors in the
first phase of the disaster. Information updates from the affected country and international responders are
moderated by a dedicated team.

2. Interactive Map with an overview of the natural disaster.

Maps and satellite imagery from various providers are shared on the EYE4CALAMITY trough the GDACS
Satellite Mapping and Coordination System (SMCS). It provides a communication and coordination platform
where organizations may monitor and inform stakeholders of their completed, current and future mapping
activities during emergencies.

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It includes disaster managers and disaster information systems worldwide and aims at filling the information
and coordination gaps in the first phase after major disasters.

3. Provide a notification for possible impact of the disaster.

Using an emergency notification system to share messages with staff about what they should do before,
during and after a natural disaster helps minimize downtime and keep people safe.

EYE4CALAMITY is an integrated application of hazard monitoring, forecasting and prediction, disaster risk
assessment, communication and preparedness activities systems and processes that enable individuals,
communities, governments, businesses and others to take timely action to reduce disaster risks in advance of
hazardous events

5 EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION MESSAGE TEMPLATES EVERY ORGANIZATION NEEDS

TO HAVE

PLANNING AHEAD SAVES TIME

It’s a simple fact: planning ahead saves time. When it comes to sending emergency notifications, this is
particularly true. Organizations can’t afford to be creating messages on the fly when an emergency occurs; it
takes too much time. During a crisis every second counts, and the faster information can spread, the more
likely it is that everyone can stay out of harm’s way. Achieving this goal starts with leveraging an emergency
notification system that allows users to build message templates that can be deployed quickly during an
emergency situation.

EVACUATION
In certain circumstances, like a fire or chemical spill, organizations may need to evacuate their buildings.
Communicating this message can sometimes be chaotic but having a clear and concise message can help
execute this in an orderly manner.

8888 ALERTS
If an organization is going to respond to an emergency, it needs to know when one happens. Emergency
notification systems that can monitor and send alerts when an emergency number like 8888 is dialed help
speed up the response and direct officials to the area where help is needed.

PANIC BUTTON
Sometimes, an alert only needs to be sent to a select group of people. A panic button placed at a front desk
can be used to silently signal that help is needed. Some emergency notification systems can connect with
panic buttons to automatically send a pre-written message to the right group of people.

ALL CLEAR
It’s important to let people know when an event has concluded. An all-clear message communicates that the
danger has passed, and they can return to a normal routine.

4. Identify alert levels of the calamity.

Concept of Operations

The Concept of Operations provides response agencies with a guide to the way a hazard incident may be
approached. In this regard, a three-levelled system of response is used depending on the severity of the
emergency. These three levels are:

A Level 1, emergency is a localized incident. Such incidents are within the capacity of the local government
authorities and other first responder agencies within a Municipality. The first responder agencies may include
the Police Service, the Fire Service and the Health Services, as necessary. At Level 1, the Emergency
Operations Centre (EYE4CALAMITY) will be activated as needed to coordinate the Government Agency
response.

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At Level 2, the emergency or disaster event usually affects two or more municipal regions, or while confined
to one municipality, may be of a very serious nature (that is, have the potential for significant loss of life or
damage to property, environment or economy). In such instances, the response can be dealt with using
municipal and national resources.

If it is perceived that a Level 1 incident has the potential to escalate to a Level 2 event, the National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) would be notified and EYE4CALAMITY will be
activated. This activation would facilitate the closer monitoring of events and initiate preparation for response
should the Level 1 response become overwhelmed

At Level 3, should the national resources become overwhelmed, the President will declare a national
emergency. In such a scenario, the government, through the Ministries of National Security, Foreign Affairs
and Finance, will coordinate the acquisition of regional and international aid assistance.

THE FOUR KEY ELEMENTS OF THE EYE4CALAMITY TO WORK

EFFECTIVELY ARE:

1. Disaster risk knowledge based on the systematic collection of data and disaster risk
assessments;
2. Detection, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of the hazards and possible
consequences;
3. Dissemination and communication, by an official source, of authoritative, timely,
accurate and actionable warnings and associated information on likelihood and
impact;
4. Preparedness at all levels to respond to the warnings received.

FAILURE IN ONE COMPONENT OR A LACK OF COORDINATION

ACROSS THEM COULD LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE WHOLE
EYE4CALAMITY APP.

Risk knowledge
Risks arise from the combination of the hazards and the vulnerabilities to hazards that are
present. Assessments of risk require systematic collection and analysis of data and should
take into account the dynamics and variability of hazards and vulnerabilities that arise from
processes such as urbanization, rural land-use change, environmental degradation and
climate change. Risk assessments and risk maps help to motivate people, prioritize early
warning system needs and guide preparations for response and disaster prevention
activities.

Monitoring and warning service

Warning services lie at the core of the EYE4CALAMITY App. They must have a sound
scientific basis for predicting and forecasting and must reliably operate twenty-four hours
a day. Continuous monitoring of hazard parameters and precursors is necessary to generate
accurate warnings in a timely fashion. Warning services for the different hazards should
be coordinated where possible to gain the benefit of shared institutional, procedural and
communication networks
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Dissemination and communication
Warnings must get to those at risk. For people to understand warnings, they must contain
clear, useful information that enables proper responses. Regional, national and community-
level communication channels and tools must be pre-identified and one authoritative voice
established. The use of multiple communication channels is necessary to ensure everyone
is reached and to avoid the failure of any one channel, as well as to reinforce the warning
message.

Response capability
Communities must also respect the warning service and know how to react to warnings.
This requires systematic education and preparedness programs led by disaster management
authorities. It is essential that disaster management plans are in place and are well practiced
and tested. The community should be well informed on options for safe behavior and on
means to avoid damage and loss of property.

Multi-hazard early warning systems (EYE4CALAMITY)

This system addresses several hazards and/or impacts of similar or different type in
contexts where hazardous events may occur alone, simultaneously, cascading or
cumulatively over time, and taking into account the potential interrelated effects. A multi-
hazard early warning system with the ability to warn of one or more hazards increases the
efficiency and consistency of warnings through coordinated and compatible mechanisms
and capacities, involving multiple disciplines for updated and accurate hazards
identification and monitoring for multiple hazards.

People Centered Early warning systems

The objective of people-centered early warning systems is to empower individuals and
communities threatened by hazards to act in sufficient time and in an appropriate manner
so as to reduce the possibility of personal injury, loss of life, damage to property and the
environment and loss of livelihoods.

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EYE2CALAMITY APPLICATION RUN THROUGH

1. The mobile application has an easy sign-up feature. User’s contact number is
collected for SMS Alerts.

To finish signing up the following details are needed:

• Name
• Birthday
• Address
• Email

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2. The Home Page feature a real-time weather forecast from PAGASA and
functionality buttons.

3. The Thunder Icon leads to the side bar

where you can have an option to visit
government and news social media
accounts for real-time update.

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4. The Weather Forecast button shows update on
weather condition, temperature and incoming
storms.

5. The Emergency Hotline button consists of quick links to

government websites and its contact number.

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6. The Alert button is a quick search
engine for nearby evacuation areas
during calamities.

7. The Bulb button consists of

infographics of safety information for
disaster risks reduction.

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VIABILITY OF THE SYSTEM OR ITS BENEFITS
• Reduction in loss of life
• Early notification of emergency system
• Orderly disruption of social and economic facilities
• Improved traffic control
• Reduced public stress

Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters. Communities,
families, and individuals should know what to do in the event of a fire and where to seek shelter
during a disaster. They should be ready to evacuate their homes and take refuge in public shelters
and know how to care for their basic medical needs.

Disaster preparedness thru EYE4CALAMITY app also helps save to time for a quick action in case
of an emergency. These helps reduce panic and chaos which would otherwise be present when the
disaster happens. As long as these disaster kits are available, more lives and assets can be salvaged
from the scene, thus save money too.

As a result of the increasing intensity and frequency of disasters happening around the world, the
need for tools that will not only strengthen public awareness on the importance of disaster
preparedness, but also facilitate a nationwide system for disaster response and management, is
underscored.

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