Nagrik Dialogue

WEBINAR ON,” INNOVATIONS, NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND AI – TOOLS FOR MANAGING COMPLEX FUTURE DISASTERS POST COVID19

JAPAN BOSAI PLATFORM (JBP) AND UNDRR ARISE INDIA JOINTLY ORGANISE THIRD AND LAST WEBINAR ON,” INNOVATIONS, NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND AI – TOOLS FOR MANAGING COMPLEX FUTURE DISASTERS POST COVID19”,

IN COLLABORATION WITH

COALITION OF DISASTER RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE (CDRI) WITH SDG CHOUPAL AS KNOWLEDGE PARTNER & DAINIK BHASKAR AS DEVELOPMENT MEDIA PARTNER

“NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR EARTHQUAKES AND LANDSLIDES, STRATEGIES FOR AGRICULTURE INSURANCE, CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN INDUSTRIAL SECTOR AND HEALTH CARE PREPAREDNESS DURING CORONA-VIRUS WERE  SHARED BY PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES OF BOTH COUNTRIES”

The last of three webinars  on,”Innovations, New Technologies and Artificial Intelligence – Tools for Managing Complex Future Disasters post COVID19” , was organized by Japan Bosai Platform (JBP) and UNDRR ARISE INDIA (FICCI) in collaboration with CDRI,  SDG CHOUPAL as knowledge partner and DAINIK BHASKAR as Development Media Partner,  on 30 September 2020. During the webinar, four companies  from Japan and three companies from India shared their innovations.  From Japan, first  presentation was from Chuo Kaihatsu Corporation.  Dr Un Wang, Senior Manager of the Company gave out inputs on the innovations in early warning system for landslides and slope failure risk assessment by using the technology of installing multi point MEMs tilting sensors.  In order to detect slope deformation efficiently and accurately, a tilt sensor has been innovated to measure the tilt angle of a steel bar inserted into the surface layer of a slope, to understand the phenomenon that may precede a slope collapse. The technology has been applied by installing sensors for monitoring slope in the thick residential area of Kalimpong, West Bengal.  Mr Demin Feng of Fujita Corporation, Japan informed about the seismic isolation and response control technology for damage reduction and business continuity as a result of earthquake.  Due to earthquake there is structural damage which results in building collapse and loss of lives. Seismic isolation technology contributes  in improving the earthquake resistance of buildings. This technology is mainly suitable for new high-rise buildings, but it can also be applied to retrofit existing structures. Ground motions that propagate to buildings during an earthquake would be greatly reduced, structural collapse and damage can be prevented, and human losses and damage to furniture and fixtures would also be reduced to a great extend. This will prevent functional damage to buildings after an earthquake and enable business continuity. Mr Ryo Miyazaki, GM , International Business Development Department of OYO Corporation, Japan informed about the deterministic seismic micro zoning with 3D ground model for spatial slope risk assessment with stability informed about Detection Sensor for Flooding Hazard Mapping with Inundation Detection Sensors. It is an ICT based disaster management system. The last Japanese company to make presentation was Weathernews Inc.  Its Area Representative Mr Yasuaki Takeda informed about the service of farming support and agricultural damage guarantee in case of disasters. He highlighted the challenges the farmers faced which included not getting appropriate information and guidance on crop damage reduction, disaster compensation costs for revival and restoration after a natural disaster, development of disaster compensation insurance, and fairness in compensation (verification of facts through observation data). It takes time to assess and process claims payments. He said that the solution lay in appropriate understanding of the timing of sowing, cropping, fertilization, and harvesting and provision of timely information, providing data for insurance service design and claims payment and promptly respond to assessments and claims recommendation in the event of a major disaster.

The three Indian Companies who shared their innovations included Aonia Unit of IFFCO, GiZ and Columbia Asia Hospitals Pvt Ltd. Mr NP Rao, JGM, Aonia Unit of IFFCO in Bareilley, gave detailed information about the types of threats which the industries faced, what were the main causes of disasters and what mitigation and preventive measures need to be taken to reduce the effect of disasters in industries, which mostly were due to human failures. Mr R Hrishikesh Mahadev, Technical Advisor, Sustainable Urban and Industrial Development, GiZ gave details of how GiZ was helping the Andhra and Telangana States to adapt to climate change and take mitigation measures against the perceived disasters which the States faced.  The strategy and techniques suggested by them had helped the States in climate change adaptation by taking appropriate mitigation measures for reducing the risks of damages to infrastructure and loss of lives.  The last speaker was Dr Samir Singh , GM, Clinical Services, Columbia Asia Hospitals Pvt Ltd, India. He informed about the disaster preparedness in the health care sector.  The various gaps existing in healthcare which resulted in avoidable disasters like fires in hospitals were highlighted.  Some very important issues relating to  prevailing pandemic were also delineated..

Earlier in his opening remarks Brig (Dr) BK Khanna, CEO ARISE INDIA gave background of how JBP and ARISE INDIA (FICCI) came closer to execute a MoU and provide a platform for giving impetus to the the Japanese and Indian Companies to collaborate with each other by sharing their innovations and thus reduce the risks. He also highlighted that innovations and new technologies were going to play a vital role in the management of future complex and multiple hazards. Artifilial intelligence is already making inroads to make healthcare more accurate and less costly and also being used in manufacturing.  Innovations can make a difference if they are applied intelligently to improve the built environment. Mr Kochichi Hayashi from JBP was moderator from JBP.

Overall 19 companies from both countries shared their innovations during three webinars, which were attended by a large number of Indian and Japanese companies.  Some very innovative technologies and ideas were shared which are likely to result in more collaboration in the private sector.  Indian and Japanese companies should take advantage of this platform to share their experiences and take it to next level for  b2b dialogue for business opportunities. 

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Nagrik Dialogue is the face of Nagrik Foundation’s communication skills that comes in the form of a monthly magazine. It will work as a bridge for those working at the grass roots level and those who support them in any form and manner.