KSDMA to join hands with MIT to set up crowdsourcing platform

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Disaster and emergency preparedness in the state is poised to take a giant leap as the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) is planning to tap the potentialities of crowdsourcing platform. The platform will be set up with the help of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. According to KSDMA, the proposal in this regard will get materialised soon as it is working out to set up a crowdsourcing platform which will be co-developed by MIT.

“We had already held initial discussions with MIT. During the floods, we had used a crowdsourcing domain in the form of keralarescue.in. Taking note of the same, MIT expressed its interest to collaborate with us,” said Sekhar L Kuriakose, member secretary, KSDMA.

He further said by collaborating with MIT the idea is to make the existing crowdsourcing domain a mainstream one.

“By associating with MIT we will co-develop a crowdsourcing domain which will come handy in times of disaster and emergency situations. We already had joined hands with the University of Sussex and Harvard University for enhancing our disaster management activities and make it more result-oriented,” Sekhar said.

Earlier, the KSDMA had alleged the IMD’s operation in state had many loopholes as there were insufficient observatories and inadequate scientists. At the same time, the Ministry of Home Affairs took the stance that the IMD has an adequate observational network in the state as in addition to 11 number of IMD observatories, there are also 15 Automated Rain Gauge (ARG) stations for the proper monitoring of rainfall over the state. It also states that there are sufficient scientists posted at the IMD offices in Kerala to provide service to the state to meet all emerging requirements.

Meanwhile, IMD reported that the satellite-based Cyclone Warning Dissemination Systems in the state have outlived their technology and are now non-operational.

ISRO tie-up on cards

It is learnt that KSDMA, which is relying mainly on Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for weather forecasting and related preparedness, has plans to tie up with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). “We have sorted out the issues with IMD. To bolster the disaster preparedness we will join hands with the ISRO,” said Sekhar.