Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

AI uses computer systems to perform tasks associated with human intelligence. This can be used to help detect and interpret patterns useful for managing emergencies. Explore with AI experts how AI may be used in COVID-19 mitigation, preparation, response and recovery:

• Mitigation: To recognize patterns in the environment to provide early warning e.g. data on compounding factors associated with COVID-19 infection such as urban poverty to provide information on potentially high risk areas
• Preparation: To analyse patterns in natural and social phenomena e.g. impacts of natural disasters on hospital capacity during COVID-19. Run emergency simulations to mathematically model detailed emergency management plans to account for compounding disasters during the pandemic
• Response and Recovery: To evaluate situational information from social media, and surveillance cameras to determine where response is needed, and to support coordination of recovery activities e.g. drones can be used to transport PPE, using online information developed by mapping COVID hotspots. In the UK, Windracers (a humanitarian aid transportation company) used delivery drones to fly four times a day to the Isle of Wight, taking just 10 minutes to deliver PPE

While humour is not readily identifiable with disaster risk management, it has been shown as a useful tool to:

• Engage the audience, breaking through boredom
• Enable new ideas to emerge
• Invite people to change their frames of reference
• Creates a safe space to be candid and innovative
• Envision how things can go wrong/could change

One means of sensitively using humour is through cartoons. From week 13 of the speaker series, "Cities on the Frontline", the World Bank and the Global Resilient Cities Network commissioned cartoonists to create cartoons that represented the weekly theme to create cartoons that engage webinar participants differently. Consider how to sensitively use humour through outputs like cartoons to:

• Augment frank discussions about risk, meaningful engagement, and provide a safe space for respectful disagreement
• Explain information to individuals who may not have the technical experience in disasters e.g. there is often an expectation that communities who at risk are making decisions the same way that technical specialists do, yet, most individuals who are at risk in a floodplain, for instance, derive some benefit from living there. Thus, there are different decision-making factors to consider. Cartoons can help change the frame of reference for both risk specialists and communities
• Highlight potential problems. Cartoons can serve as metaphors, helping participants to see their role or project in a new light
• Provide non aggressive commentary on particular situations, especially those which are sensitive
• Encourage participatory discussions by depicting ideas at their extreme logical conclusions, or challenging positions or proposals to inspire dialogue about risk

AI uses computer systems to perform tasks associated with human intelligence. This can be used to help detect and interpret patterns useful for managing emergencies. Explore with AI experts how AI may be used in COVID-19 mitigation, preparation, response and recovery:

• Mitigation: To recognize patterns in the environment to provide early warning e.g. data on compounding factors associated with COVID-19 infection such as urban poverty to provide information on potentially high risk areas
• Preparation: To analyse patterns in natural and social phenomena, and run emergency simulations to develop detailed emergency management plans
• Response and Recovery: To sort situational information from social media, and surveillance cameras (fixed, drones, satellites) to determine where response is needed, and to support coordination of recovery activities