Australian crisis evacuation app recognised by UN

By on 5 May, 2015

Guardian Evacuations

An Australian app that links people fleeing natural disasters with nearby evacuation centres could soon be saving lives around the world, after winning a United Nations (UN) competition.

The Guardian Evacuations app – built using geographic information system (GIS) technology – helps victims of natural disasters locate their nearest evacuation centre while providing details on real-time traffic, weather, flood and fire information to help users determine the safest routes.

The application took out the Global Disaster Resilience App Challenge, which is run by international GIS technology company Esri and the UN’s Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

The app was unveiled this week to North Queensland’s GIS community at an industry event.

GP One consulting director Gareck Packer – who developed the app in conjunction with Queensland disaster management software company QIT Plus – said it draws information from a range of sources, including government departments and community groups.

“The app equips evacuees with crucial tools to help them reach safety during a disaster,” Mr Packer said. “This includes basic information, such as how to find an evacuation centre, what facilities the centre has, and what to take with them.

“Evacuees can also use the app to pre-register while travelling, which reduces pressure on centre volunteers and provides a vital record of who is expected compared to who has been received at a facility.

“Importantly, users can see which centres are currently accepting people, so they don’t waste valuable time contacting co-ordination centres for this information.”

Esri Australia managing director Brett Bundock said smart mapping apps were increasingly becoming a crucial tool during major flood, fire and cyclone events – when the difference between life and death can hinge on having the right information at your fingertips.

Guardian Evacuations was developed to complement the award-winning Guardian Disaster Management Suite, a range of tools used by Queensland councils to manage call centres and on-the-ground responses during disasters.

While currently in its beta stage of development, the app is expected to be available for download on Australian council websites for use with phones, tablets and PC within six months.

There are also plans to make it available through Google and Apple’s app markets.

You may also like to read:


, , , , , , , , ,


Newsletter

Sign up now to stay up to date about all the news from Spatial Source. You will get a newsletter every week with the latest news.

Interview: Tori Murrant, GIS analyst
Having stumbled across the geospatial sector at university, ...
Testing SouthPAN and commercial GNSS services
UNSW surveying students were challenged to put a range of So...
Here’s what’s in our latest issue!
Learn about the metaverse, mapmaking, 3D scanning, RINEX, hy...
Modern Methods of Construction Roadshow
The events will show how the latest software, tools and tech...
Real-time LiDAR mapping system
The Brumby LiDAR rapidly produces point clouds by removing t...