Disaster Information System Disaster Health Management MPH

Oct 2012

Memorial Disaster Health Management MPH

Oct 2011

Objectives

Role of Information In Disasters

What happens to information streams in Disasters?

Source of Information In Disasters

What is information system?

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The importance of (Health) Information

"in a disaster, accurate information, like

clean water, is an indisputable good"

Keen & Ryle, 1996

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A Few Useful Definitions/Agreements

Data: Raw material that has not been analyzed; on its own data have no meaning, apart from what they state

Information: The meaningful collection, manipulation and transformation of data in a way that enhances the comprehension of the studied events

Intelligence: In-depth knowledge of an issue, information in a context

push and pull information propagation

STEPS EXAMPLE FUNCTION

Facts/Events Deaths

Data Number of deaths Collect and Count

Indicator Mortality Rate Calculation

Information Rates by sex, age, location

Analysis

Knowledge Time trends, comparison with other areas

Interpretation

Decision Making Decisions (impact, severity)

Assessing options

Re

po

rts

Inst

ruct

ion

s

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The Circle of Information Management

Data

Information

Knowledge

Activity/Decisions

Process

Learn Apply

Collect

Adapted from: Information Management for non information-managers, 2004

INFORMATION System’s Process

What is involved in the process of generating information and knowledge?

Data Collection Data Collation Data Analysis

Information Dissemination

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The Myth of Information in Disasters

No information is available, or what is available is biased to such a degree to be useless.

Two opposite prevalent attitudes of Emergency Health Managers:

Extinction by Instinct

Paralysis by Analysis

Information Management in Disaster– Simply Defined!

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40% Information

60% Inter-pretation

Information flow Horizontal: between peer entities

Vertical: along an organization’s hierarchy

Offline Operation ?

is a must in difficult communication environment

online “help desk”

Humanitarian Information Management & Exchange

Desired Qualities:

Comprehensiveness

Timeliness

Relevance

Validity / Accuracy

Precision / Reliability

Acceptable cost

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The Cost of Information

Accuracy of information

Co

st

of

ob

tain

ing

in

form

ati

on

From A..Green, 1999

Impact of Disaster on Information

• Your experience/s:

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The impact of Disaster on information

Pre-existing information systems deteriorate

Insecurity

Population movements

Poor communication

Collection & analysis of data clash with other priority activities

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The impact of Disaster on information

Proliferation and fragmentation of information systems; they often increase the "background noise": good data are hidden by bad ones

A large part of the collected information remains unused

There are strong incentives for manipulating the information

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Factors Preventing Information Sharing

Technical issues

Political issues

Bureaucracy

Timeliness of data collection… and data release

Unclear priorities

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What is a SYSTEM?

A system is a group of interrelated components working together toward a common goal by accepting inputs and producing outputs in an organized transformation process

HUANG Lihua, Fudan University Feb., - July., 2005

Abstract Concept of a Systems

INPUT OUTPUT PROCESS

FEEDBACK

HUANG Lihua, Fudan University Feb., - July., 2005

What is a SYSTEM? Components and their attribution

Systems structure: relationship between components

Subsystems

Environment and Boundary

Input and Output S1

S2

S3 S4

Systems structure

Subsystems

Systems Boundary

Environment

Systems Input Output

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What is an Information Systems?

A information system can be any organized combination of people, hardware, software, communications network, and data resources that collects, transforms, and disseminates information in an organization

HUANG Lihua, Fudan University Feb., - July., 2005

Components of an Information System

Control

Input Process

Memory

Output

Data People

Software

network

computer

Technology – the means by which data is transformed and organized for business use:

Hardware

Software

Database

Telecommunication

People – the users of IS

Organization -- a collection of functional units working together to achieve a common goal

NEEDS

What are the needs within your sector? Cross cutting issues?

Can they be quantified? Qualified?

NEEDS

PUZZLE of INFORMATION SYSTEM

TCCT1 Geneva Apr08

CAPACITY

What resources are available to address needs?

How can these resources most effectively be used?

Are they funded? Or just planned?

CAPACITY

TCCT1 Geneva Apr08

PUZZLE of INFORMATION SYSTEM

WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN

Who are the agencies active in your sector?

Where are they working and what are they doing?

When are their programmes active and how much are they doing?

WWWW

TCCT1 Geneva Apr08

PUZZLE of INFORMATION SYSTEM

GAPS

What locations have missing resources? Overlaps? Are all sub-sectors being addressed?

What additional resources need to be advocated for?

Is this the most effective usage of resources?

GAP

TCCT1 Geneva Apr08

PUZZLE of INFORMATION SYSTEM

TCCT1 Geneva Apr08

Strategic Decisions

Needs-Based Planning

Advocacy to Donors, Media

Technical Solutions

INFORMATION SYSTEM

Where Do We Get Information?

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Main Sources of Information in a Disaster

Data exist, almost always. They are often hidden among various sources, for example:

Routine information systems in public sector

Surveys

Personal files maintained by knowledgeable people

Informal information networks

Journals

Documentation centres (UN, donor agencies, government, INGOs, etc.)

Use local knowledge/community (key informants)

Azerbaijan earthqake-2012- photo credit: Mordian

Consider Level of Information

On-site Regional cities Capital City Regional organizations National International (WHO) Donor capitals Virtual

Integration and linkage of information Availability of communication, redundancy of links Fast data access Timeliness and updating of information Standardization of information

Major requirements From Disaster Information System

System Requirements Reliable and robust network. Redundant and quickly recovered system Traffic congestion should be avoided just after disaster Security and privacy for residents should be preserved Disaster information should be consistent and properly maintained and updated. Movable and handy terminals and easy operations can be provided even for senior, children or sick people. Various communication functions should be provided - person to person and one to many directions - support video, voice and data.

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Appropriate Technology

Emphasizes that the most sophisticated technology is not always the best for a particular situation. Important factors include: lifetime cost durability training requirements ease of use and maintenance

Benefits of New Technology Problems of New Technology

•Faster · Smaller · Cheaper · Simpler · Fewer workers · Increased productivity · More efficient · Increasingly digitised · Increasingly mobile

Too complex for some workers · Equipment may have to be imported · Need training to install, use, and maintain · May result in loss of jobs · May require utilities (electricity, water, etc.) · Under-use/misuse/over-use · Increasing dependency · Not resistant to dust, humidity, heat · No spare parts locally · Needs a maintenance plan/budget

Telecommunications Technology

Description of Available Tools

Telephone Instruments for transmitting voice messages. There are various telephone sy stems: · Local telephone lines – may not be reliable · Cellular telephone systems – available in many locations · Satellite communications – provide better quality lines than local telephones

Telefax Equipment that transmits exact copies of images or printed matter by electronic means. Requires a good quality telephone line. The telefax and telephone normally should not share the same line where the volume of communication is high.

Telex Consists of teletypewriters that send and receive signals by telephone. The radiotelex is now more commonly used.

Telecommunications Technology

Description of Available Tools

Radio Equipment that allows two-way audio communication without connecting wires: · Very High Frequency (VHF) radio — hand held, suitable for local voice communication over a very short range (in a city or camp); · Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio — similar to VHF but give better transmission in dense urban areas · High Frequency (HF) mobile and base units — link VHF/UHF/HF communications (voice and written) over short, medium or long distances, · PACTOR system — a special modem attached to a HF radio and computer to transmit text and data

Radio Repeater A variety of equipment for immediate transmission of various signals (voice, fax, telex and data messages), such as: · INMARSAT M · Mini M satellite systems

Computer-based Communications

Computers and telecommunications systems (telephone, radio and satellite) can enhance the flow of communication and information through: · Internet (the World Wide Web) •Electronic mail (e-mail)

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Exchanging information, not just asking for it!

References • WHO, MPHR5 course

• Yoshitaka Shibata Faculty of Software and Information Science Iwate Prefectural University, Japan SAINT’2003

• Andreas Meissner, et al. 2002

• The Johns Hopkins and IFRC Public Health Guide for Emergencies

• Satoshi Hasegawa, et al.

• A. Mansourian, et al., 2002

• THE EPI COVERAGE SURVEY, WHO