Transcript Document

William E. Bertrand, Payson Center Tulane University
Co-Director CDMHA INTERHANDS 2002
The Center for Disaster Management and
Humanitarian Assistance (CDMHA)
is a joint program of:
Tulane University
and the
University of South Florida
in partnership with
United States Southern Command
Mission of CDMHA
Facilitate civil-military operations and cooperation by:
 Development and implementation of education and training
programs in disaster and crisis management
 Applying state-of-the-art communication and information
technologies to support disaster/crisis managers, technicians and
field personnel
 Catalyzing improvements in disaster management through
organizational networking and research
Training and Education

Develop computer-based, software products with the
purpose of strengthening regional institutional
capacity in responding to critical events

Establish certificate, undergraduate and graduate
programs in disaster management and complex human
emergencies through a consortium of universities

Develop residential and distance short courses to
enhance civil-military readiness
Networking
Communicate
and coordinate regularly with regional institutions
engaged in crisis mitigation and response
Collaborate and
sponsor quality research and training
Produce
appropriate data based documentation for training and
development missions in collaboration with public and private sector
Participate in
relevant conferences and seminars on information
management and civil military partnerships
Moore’s Law : The Principal Force
Driving All Science
Every 18 -24 months the density of the
elements on a micro-processor doubles.
The effect of this is to double the
processing power or halve the cost. As a
result of this and other factors the
doubling time of information in the
world is three to five years.
Implications of Moore’s Law for
Disaster Response and Mitigation
• Huge input of new data to the response
environment.(World Data total doubling
every 3-5 years)
• Advances in every scientific discipline are
being driven by information tech.(NSF)
• Communication on almost every subject is
near real time – therefore its form and
structure is important.
Research:The Cycle of Intelligent Action and
Mission Support
Idea
Generated
or Problem
Observed
A.
Initial
Review of
Literature B.
and Polling
Experts
Synthesis of
Data and
Report to
USSOUTHCOM
C.
F,
Results
Synthesized
Training
Delivered
E,
Research
Executed
Results
Analyzed
D.
Decision to
Act or
Contract
New Research
Case Study of Evolution of a
Problem for CDMHA
Idea
Generated
or Problem
Observed
A.
Based upon experiences with Mitch
General Wilhelm suggests that
a priority is to increase private sector
involvement prior to disaster event and
organize same for the future
Analysis of State Current
Research
Initial
Review of
Literature
and Polling
Experts
B.
USF commissions literature review
(Dr. Colmenares)
Tulane consults and ultimately employs
former OFDA Asst. Director and expert
(O. Davidson) to review three decades of
USAID and related work in area and to
Lead a new initiative.
Preliminary Research Results
Reported
Synthesis of
Data and
Report to
USSOUTHCOM
C.
Summary paper in development on
state of public-private sector and disaster
coordination, including identification of
knowledge gaps, short and long term
strategy and feasibility study for private
sector foundation in support of USSOUTHCOM
activities.
Develop Needs Based Research
Agenda
D.
Decision to
Act or
Contract
New Research
Two operations research projects
designed to fill identified gaps.
a. Survey of company readiness plans in
Central America.
b. Formation of pilot group from
business sector to meet during
IDB meeting in New Orleans and serve
as a focus group, steering group for
future action to develop decision support
software.
Research Executed and Results
Synthesized For USSOUTHCOM and Other
DOD Clients
E,
Research
Executed
Results
Analyzed
F,
Results
Synthesized
Training
Delivered
Research is now available
and integrated into Interhands course
In summary, the CDMHA...
 Leverages communication/information technologies to strength
decision support related to disasters and environmental security
threats
 Contributes to evolving standards in readiness and response
through quality research
 Fosters trusted partnerships among the disaster response and
humanitarian assistance communities
 Strengthens the readiness of civil and military organizations
through traditional and non-traditional education and training
programs