Potential of Digital technologies in Risk mapping of environmental events and disaster management of Cities

Abstract

The pace of disasters has increased globally with the increased intensity of its impact on infrastructure and livelihood. Besides that, disaster event also leads to economic crises and impacts the city governance severely. Post-disaster scenarios, their impact analysis, and responsive management is a challenge for city governance. As per the report of the United States Institute of Peace, disasters and extreme environmental events, impact on a global scale exerts economic, social, and political stress which may also induce conflicts between cities and countries. This scenario shows the requirement of reinforcing the management of disaster and environmental events ahead of conventional practices. The report of New Urban Agenda (NUA) endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly empowers cities, resilient to disasters, and the scope of digitalization and innovative technologies. In this background, this paper aims to study the potential of digital technologies in risk mapping of extreme environmental events, prediction of disaster, and proactive management for preparedness and mitigation of pre and post-disaster, while monitoring the growth pattern of the city and its impact on climate change. In this research, the study undergoes analysis of the tools and technologies involved in the process of digitalizing the city and its outcome on predictions and management. In the process of understanding this study will consider literature reviews on the concept, technical interventions, and challenges of these technologies, and will take best practices at the global level to analyze its implementation, challenges, and future scope of development