Tech4DRR Grounds Innovation in Local Needs to Reduce Disaster Risk – NASA Applied Sciences (.gov)

Report on Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Strategic Partnerships

A special report, titled “The Use of Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction (Tech4DRR),” has been published by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the NASA Disasters Program. This publication underscores the critical need for practical, locally relevant technologies to enhance community preparedness and mitigate disaster risk. The development of this report exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership, directly contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Key collaborators include:

• The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
• NASA Disasters Program
• The Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE USA)
• The Regional Scientific and Technical Advisory Group for the Americas and the Caribbean (RSTAG)

Technological Advancements for Enhanced Resilience

The report examines the evolution of technology in supporting disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts. These advancements are instrumental in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by upgrading technological capabilities and Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action) by strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards. Key technological applications highlighted include:

• Satellite-based monitoring and hazard modeling
• Advanced early warning systems
• Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning for improved detection, forecasting, and response
• Community-level data collection tools

The Imperative of Community-Centric and Fit-for-Purpose Solutions

A central finding of the report is that the efficacy of technology is contingent upon its design and implementation within a local context. Advanced tools may prove ineffective if not developed in consideration of local needs, existing infrastructure, and cultural norms. This principle is fundamental to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), particularly Target 11.5, which focuses on significantly reducing the human and economic losses caused by disasters. The report advocates for “fit-for-purpose” solutions that are co-developed with the communities they are intended to serve, ensuring greater accessibility and utility.

A Blueprint for Sustainable and Impactful DRR

The Tech4DRR report provides a strategic blueprint for developing technologies that are more accessible, useful, and impactful. This approach reflects the guiding principle that meaningful disaster risk reduction is achieved when science and technology are shaped by the realities of local communities. The core tenets of this blueprint support a holistic approach to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, emphasizing that:

1. Technology must be designed in direct collaboration with end-users to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
2. Global collaboration must be paired with deep local engagement to create resilient societies.
3. The ultimate goal is to democratize innovation, making advanced tools available to vulnerable communities to build resilience from the ground up, in alignment with the interconnected objectives of SDGs 9, 11, 13, and 17.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The article heavily focuses on the use of technology, innovation (AI, machine learning), and infrastructure (satellite monitoring, early warning systems) to solve problems, which is the core of SDG 9.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The central theme is making communities, particularly vulnerable ones, safer and more resilient to disasters. The report aims to help communities “better prepare for and reduce disaster risk,” directly aligning with the goal of creating resilient human settlements.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article discusses reducing risks from multiple hazards and improving forecasting and response. Since many natural disasters are climate-related, strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity through technology like early warning systems is a key component of climate action.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article explicitly highlights the collaborative nature of the report, which was “developed in partnership with NASA, the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE USA) and the Regional Scientific and Technical Advisory Group for the Americas and the Caribbean (RSTAG).” This multi-stakeholder partnership is a perfect example of SDG 17 in action.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. The article discusses technological infrastructure like “satellite-based monitoring” and “early warning systems” and emphasizes making these tools “more accessible, useful, and impactful” for local communities.
   • Target 9.a: Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced… technological and technical support. The report, created by NASA and UNDRR, focuses on the Americas and the Caribbean, providing a “blueprint for developing technologies” to support disaster risk reduction in these regions.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected… caused by disasters… with a focus on protecting… people in vulnerable situations. The entire initiative described in the article is aimed at using technology to “reduce disaster risk” for “vulnerable communities.”
   • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… resilience to disasters. The “Special Report on the Use of Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction” serves as a guide or blueprint for implementing such plans, promoting solutions that are effective at the local level.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article’s focus on improving the ability to “detect, forecast, and respond to multiple hazards” through technology is a direct effort to strengthen resilience.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on… impact reduction and early warning. The report itself is an awareness-raising tool, and the technologies it promotes, such as “early warning systems and community-level data tools,” are designed to build institutional and human capacity for disaster impact reduction.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology… The article is a product of such a partnership, bringing together a UN office (UNDRR), a government agency (NASA), a private sector alliance (ARISE USA), and a scientific group (RSTAG) to share technology and expertise.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 11.5 (Reduce disaster losses):

   • Implied Indicator: The existence and adoption of technologically advanced early warning systems. The article mentions “satellite-based monitoring,” “hazard modeling,” and “early warning systems” as key technologies. Measuring their deployment and effectiveness in vulnerable communities would indicate progress.

2. For Target 11.b (Implement DRR policies):

   • Implied Indicator: The number of local or national disaster risk reduction strategies developed using community-engaged, technology-based approaches. The article advocates for a “blueprint for developing technologies that are more accessible, useful, and impactful” through “community engagement,” implying that the adoption of this model is a measure of success.

3. For Target 13.1 (Strengthen resilience):

   • Implied Indicator: The use of advanced analytics in disaster management. The article points to “advances in fields like AI and machine learning” that have “improved our ability to detect, forecast, and respond to multiple hazards.” Tracking the integration of these tools into disaster response plans would be an indicator of strengthened resilience.

4. For Target 17.16 (Multi-stakeholder partnerships):

   • Implied Indicator: The number of active partnerships between public, private, and scientific institutions for disaster risk reduction. The article itself is a product of such a partnership (UNDRR, NASA, ARISE USA, RSTAG), serving as a concrete example and indicator of this type of collaboration.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: appliedsciences.nasa.gov