.

National Science andDisaster Reduction

TechnologyCenterfor9F., No. 200, Sec. 3 Beixin Rd., Xindian District, New Taipei
City 23143, Taiwan
http://www.ncdr.nat.gov.twOutline

National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR), designed as an allhazards-approach institute, covers topics related to hydro-metrological hazards, geologicalhazards, technological hazards, potential hazard maps, social vulnerabilities analysis, applicationof remote sensing, climate change, policy suggestions of disaster risk reduction to government anddevelopment of a decision supporting system for emergency operation, NCDR innovates outputs ofscience and technology on providing comprehensive and integrated solutions for building disaster
resilience and enhancing emergency preparedness by engaging interdisciplinary teamwork withcentral and local governments, academia, communities, business sector and NGOs. Twelve years
since 2003, NCDR has been continuing its unique role to meet demand and supply of disaster
reduction in Taiwan. Besides seeking collaboration with domestic research institutes, NCDR
keeps close and active interactions with international partners for sharing with experiences andlearning from new developments.

Research Achievements and Challenges
NCDR, a team selected from more than 100 staff, leads the interdisciplinary and integrated
research programme to deal with the newly emerging extreme events, cross-cutting issues andcompound disasters at national and regional level including the APEC region. Under the authorityof the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), facilitating and implementing research results
yielded by projects funded by MOST are showing NCDR’s role in bridging gaps between academia
and policy makers. As Taiwan is a disaster-prone country, to introduce science and technology forbetter enhancing disaster management, especially efficiency of emergency, is one of key
mandates for NCDR to continue its efforts.
During typhoon season, NCDR always actively joins the teamwork with emergency operators byoffering integrated information and knowledge. For policy making, NCDR plays a role as a major
think tank to the Cabinet level and the President by providing in-depth suggestions on disaster
reduction and emergency preparedness. According to current operational framework of the Central
Emergency Operation Center, NCDR takes the leader position in charge of the situationassessment group at the central level to safeguard Taiwan. In order to effectively operate andmaintain the information system for emergency operation, NCDR has integrated big data sets fromall stakeholders involved. Since late 2009, an integrated system has been developing to meet
operational demands.
In order to cope with data and information related to typhoons, floods and precipitation-triggeredlandslides, the carried-out countermeasures strongly require decisive decisions based on
assistance of science and technology. The evidence-based emergency operation needs
implementation of applying improved numerical ensemble models to forecast trajectories and rainof typhoons; producing potential risk maps of inundation providing scenario-based suggestions forcommanding; and integrating real-time monitoring data. All the outcomes and information should
be displayed on GIS-Web-based system to assist operations of Emergency Operation Center(EOC) by upgrading the whole situation awareness. Therefore, big data is a core behind the scene.
During the implementing process, close partnership, mutual trust and interactive collaboration are
three key elements to establish seamless linkage between scientists and emergency responders.
A typical information is shown on figure 1.

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Figure 1. Information for decision support of debris flow warning
About regional participation, NCDR is also making contributions to the APEC Emergency Prepared
Working Group (EPWG) though working on enhancing capacity building and strengthening
regional collaboration on emergency preparedness and disaster reduction. From 2012, NCDR
also coordinated the cross-fora multi-year project on Improving Natural Disaster Resilience ofAPEC SMEs to Facilitate Trade and Investment between APEC Emergency Preparedness
Working Group and Small and Medium Size Enterprises Working Group (SMEWG). With carry on
NCDR’s endeavors in SMEs capacity building and Business Continuity Planning, NCDR iscurrently the focal contact point of APEC EPWG project - ‘Application of Big Data and Open Datato Emergency Preparedness Phase 1’ to implement and coordinate a better digital preparedness
on natural hazards and benefit SMEs and vulnerable groups by offering transparent and actionbased information which is aimed to enabling the potentially vulnerable groups to quick respond toemergency and secure trade an investment in the APEC region.
The most challenging tasks are how to make full use of interdisciplinary knowledge to deliversuggestions to decision makers based on the following principles: (A typical outlook of informationbased suggestion is shown on Fig.2)
1.
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Scenario-based description for deployment and response in advance: impact analysis basedon the worst and least cases will give a range of possible damages and casualties.
Cross-cutting information exchange to monitor evolving situations: Overlaying different
sources of data is able to provide a picture of inter-relation among hazardous factors like
intensity and accumulation of rainfalls, geological surveys along hillsides and threshold values.
The outcomes server as a best estimation of landslide or debris flow.
Graph and table plus GIS to show spatial and time-dependent factors: Amid emergency
operation, commanding officers have limited time to catch situations. Therefore, simple andneat information with one chart and table certainly helps commanding officers make decision.

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Figure 2. An example of decision supporting suggestions
An increasing and rising trend - eagerly seeking knowledge, expertise and best practices forenvironmental and natural disaster management- appears in civil society as more extreme weather
events and large-scale disasters have brought devastations to many countries, especially in southeast Asia. Therefore, it is about time to integrate lessons learned before, science, technology,
policy makers and practitioners together; and develop a solution-based platform to promote verticaland transverse collaboration through trans-boundary research partnership. The proposed transboundary partnerships will pursuit a cross-cutting mechanism to lavage and connect the existingregional and international programs by a value-added operation of emphasis on policies,management, operations based on inter-disciplinary researches. The main goal of the proposed
project is to breed mature disaster managers and capable practitioners who will operate disastermanagement, respond to emergency and conduct ground work by following well-organizedknowledge base produced by regional collaboration.
In the Asia-Pacific region, hydro-meteorological hazards - like typhoons, monsoon, droughts andfloods - and earthquakes are two major types of natural hazards claim casualties and properties
loses. Based on common interests and demands, tow natural hazards are priorities to collectregional partnerships. A typhoon could bring trans-boundary impacts along its trajectory. With thisregards, sharing research results of natural science, social since, management and technology will
accelerate regional improvement on disaster risk management (DRM) which should be acceptedby and applied for both public and private. The triple play of academia, policy makers andpractitioners should create a new research approach to bring all stakeholders together from initialstage for applicable methodologies and feasible solutions.
The following items should form the cores to facilitate promotion and operation of trans-boundary
partnerships:
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Knowledge for implementation: Now abundant knowledge – from academia and local
communities- are helping to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, recover from and adapt for
emergency/natural disasters.
But gaps exit between academia, policy makers andpractitioners that obviously prevent DRM from solving practical problems. Therefore, thetrans-boundary partnerships will definitely bridge the gaps by screening knowledge mature
enough for implementation, not an experimental study.
Lesson-learned operation: “Learn from disasters” and “Live with disasters” is wellknown to people, but behind the two slogans means accumulation of experiences andcollection of best practices will help disaster manager grow to face new challenges. The.

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partnerships will build a learning mechanism to shorten learning processes to breed anexperienced disaster manager.
Knowledge with management: To meet real surging demands of DRM, a knowledge tree
will assist in data mining of DMR expertise and function as a pathfinder to access thedemanded knowledge.
Value-added feedbacks: Outcomes and feedbacks contributed by policy maker andpractitioners are valuable to develop a key element of life cycle of DRM knowledge
management. A “tow-way” communication will certainly shorten the knowledge gaps
among stakeholders.
Multi-stakeholders ’ participation: The proposed partnerships will encourage broadspectrum participation of multiple stakeholders on an equal basis. Cross-cutting dialogues
and proactive interaction will build up a concrete integration.