2 Formation of a Network for Sharing Information on
Natural Disasters and Disaster Reduction

2-1 Formation of a Human Network1) Formation of a Network with Counterparts (ADRC member countries and others)
We started by identifying contact persons and supervisors in member countries, advisory countries and an observer
body and getting to know them personally through investigations of each member country and on other occasions.
At the International Expert Meeting in February, 1999, 30 attendants from 22 countries gathered to compare notes.
(Table 2-1-1, 2-1-2 and 2-1-3)
Table 2-1-1 Member CountriesClassification: (1) Supervisor (2) Contact person(3) Attended 1st Intl. Expert MeetingCountry

Class NameBangladesh①Mr.AzadAmin②③Mr.Mohammad
Shamsul Islam

Joint Secretary ,Ministry of DisasterRelief,Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka①Dr.Uy Sam Ath

Director, Disaster Management Dept.,

Cambodia

Official Position
Ruhul Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Bangladesh
Secretariat,Dhaka

Cambodian Red Cross

China③Mr.Ouk DamryFirst Vice President, Cambodian Red Cross①Mr.Xu Liugen

Director-General, Foreign Affairs Dept.,
Ministry of Civil Affairs

India①Mr.Bhagat SinghAdditional Secretary & Central Relief
Commisioner, Ministry of Agriculture②③Mr.AniSinhaKumar Joint Secretary & Additional Central Relief
Commisioner, Natural Disaster Management ,Dept. of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry ofAgriculture

Indonesia①

Mr.H.B.Burhanudin Assistant Disaster Management, Coodinator
Minister for People’s Welfare and Poverty
Alleviation②

Mr.BudiDeputy Assistant for Rehabilitation andAtmadi Adiputro

Reconstruction, Coordinator Minister for
People’s Welfare and Poverty Alleviation②

Mr.Adang Setiana

Coordinator Minister for People’s Welfare andPoverty Alleviation③M AR fiDit

fT hl

P lifRilManagementand③Mr.AunurHadi

Rofiq Director of Technology Policy for RegionalDevelopment, Agency for the Assessment andApplication of Technology, Ministry for ResearchAnd TechnologyJapan①Mr.Keichi Hayashi

Director-General, Disaster Prevention Bureau,
National Land Agency②③

Mr.Shigemasa
Kuromoto

Director, Disaster Prevention Coordination
Division, Disaster Prevention Bureau,
National Land Agency③

Mr.Hisashi Kidera

Councilor, Disaster Prevention Bureau,
National Land Agency③Mr.Yoshinobu
Fukasawa

Senior Staff Member, Secretariat of theHeadquaters for Reconstruction of the HanshinAwaji Area, Prime Minister’s OfficeKazakhstan①②Lao PDR

①Mr.Alexander
Kravchuk

Director, Department for Prevention of Emergency

Mr.Nurlan
Panzabekov

Head, International Cooperation Office,Mr.Soukata Vichit

Director General, Department of Environmental

Situation, Emergency Committee

Emergency Committee

Quality Development and Promotion, Science
Technology and Environment Organization(STENO)②③Malaysia①③

Mr.Sitha
Phouyavong

Deputy Director, Integrated Resources andMr.MohamadHaji

bin Director, Crisis and Disaster Management Unit,

Information of Science and Technology, Science and Environment
Organization (STENO)National Security Division, Prime Minister’sOthman②Mr.AdbulOthman

Department
khadir Deputy Director, Crisis and Disaster Management Unit, National
Security Division, Prime Minister’s
Department

Mongolia①Mr.D.Enkhbold

Officer, Department of Strategic Management andPlanning, Ministry for Nature andthe Environment②Mr.T.Enebish

Director, Department of Strategic Management and Planning,
Ministry for Nature andthe Environment③Mr.Bandi
Ganbaatar

Director, International Cooperation Department,
Ministry of Nature and the Environment

Myanmar①Colonel Myint Htun

Director General, Fire Services Department(H.Q),
Ministry of Social Welfare,
Relief and Resettlement

Nepal②Mr.U Zaw Win

Director, Fire Services Department(H.Q), Ministry of Social Welfare,
Relief and Resettlement①Mr.Kul Chandra

Joint Secretary, Disaster Relief Section,

Shrestha

Ministry of Home Affairs

Dr.Meen Bahadur

Under Secretary, Disaster Relief Section,

Poudyal Chhetri

Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr.Collin Travertz

Secretary, National Disaster and Emergency

②③

Papua
GuineaNew ①Services, Dept. of provincial and Local Level
Government②③

Philippines①②③

Republic
Korea

of ①Mr.Ludwick Kembu

Director General, National Disaster andQPM

Emergency Services, Dept. of provincial and Local Level Government

Mr.Jaime
Manalad

E. Regional Director, Office of Civil Defense,
Department of National Defense

Dr.Melgabal Sta.

Administrator, Office of Civil Defense,

Barbara Capistrano

Department of National Defense

Mr.Sung-Duck Park

Director-General, Disaster Prevention andPreparedness Bureau, Ministry of Government
Administration and Home Affairs②Mr.Hyun-Deok Kim

Director, Disaster Prevention Planning Division,
Disaster Prevention and Preparedness
Government Administration andBureau,

MinistryofHome Affairs③

Mr.Ki-Sung Bang

Director, Disaster Rehabilitation Division,
Ministry of Government Administration andHome Affairs③Dr.Dugkeun Park

Project Manager, National Institute for Disaster
Prevention, Ministry of Government
Administration and Home Affairs

RussianFederationSingapore①Mr.Yury BrajnikovChief, Dept. of International Cooperation,
EMERCOM of Russia②③

Mr.VladimirKuvshinov①Mr.ComrTan

Deputy Chief of Desk, Dept. of International Cooperation, EMERCOMof Russia
James Commissioner, Singapore Civil Defense Force,Chan Seng②③

Mr.Tham Sek Khow

Ministry of Home Affairs
Head Planning Branch, Singapore Civil Defense Force, Ministry ofHome Affairs

PhilipMr.Anbalagan

Deputy Head Joint Emergency Planning (EP),Thangarajah

Ministry of Home Affairs①Mr.Amara
Hewamaddura

Secretary, Ministry of Social Services②

Mr.W.B.J. fernandoDirector, National Disaster Management Centre,③Sri Lanka

Ministry of Social Services③Mrs.Vijeyalakshmy

Additional Secretary, Ministry of Social Services

Jegarasasingam
Tadzhikstan

Thailand①Mr.Bobogado
Boltaev

Chief, State Emergency Committee②③Mr.Bahrom

Head, Dept. of the Territory and Population

Mamadaliev

Protection, State Emergency Committee

Mr.Pramuan

Director-General, Local Administration Dept.,

Ruchanaseree

Ministry of Interior

Mr.Chainarong

Chief of Planning Section, Civil Defence Division,

Vasanasomsithi

Dept. of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior①②③③Mr.Pricha Rakskhid Deputy Director-General,
Dept. of Local Administration, Ministry of InteriorUzbekistan①②③Viet Nam①Mr.Sosnovsky

Leader, Dept. of Emergency Situation,

Valentin Olegovich

Cabinet Ministry

Mr.Abdullaev Zafar

Chief of Staff, Secretariat of the Dept. ofAzizovich

Emergency Situation, Cabinet Ministry

Mr.Nguyen Sy Nuol

Deputy Director, Standing Office of the Central
Committee for Flood and Storm Control,
Dept. of Dike Management & Flood & StormControl ,Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment②Mr.Nguyen
Phuc

Huu Deputy Director, Disaster Management Center,
Dept. of Dike Management & Flood & StormControl ,Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment③Mr.Nguyen
Dong

Ngoc Director, Disaster Management Centre,
Dept. of Dyke Management & Flood Control,
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development③Mr.Hoang
TungThanh Disaster Information Engineer,
Dept. of Dyke Management & Flood Control,
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development③

Mrs.Bui Thi Bich

Division Head of Flood and Storm Control,Mrs.Bui Thi Bich③

Division Head of Flood and Storm Control,
Dept. of Dyke Management & Flood Control,
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development③Mrs.Nguyen Thi

Legislation Expert in charge of Disaster

Tuyet-Hoa

Management, Dept. of International Cooperation,
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Table 2-1-2 Advisory Countries
Country

Class NameAustralia①Mr.
Hodges②③Mr.
Rod Director, Policy, Planning and Coordination, Emergency Management
McKinnon
Australia

France＊Direction de la Securite Civile, Ministere de l'Interieur

New Zealand①Mr.
Norton②Dr. Neil Britton Manager, Sector Development and Education, Office of Emergency
Management & Civil Defence①Mr.
Kuenzi②

Dr. Dieter Wepf

Switzerland

Official Position
Alan Director General, Emergency Management Australia

John Director, Emergency Management and Civil Defence, Office of Emergency
Management & Civil Defence

Beat Program co-ordinator MS geologist, Humanitarian Aid and Swiss Disaster
ReliefChief Security Officer, Representative SDR, Division of Humanitarian Aidand Swiss Disaster Relief Unit

Table 2-1-3 ObserverCountryClass Name

Official Position

ADPC

①③

Prof.Dr.
Krasae Chairman, Board of Trustees, ADPC Foundation
Chanawongse②

Mr. David Hollister

Acting Director and Senior Manager, Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation
Program, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center③

Mr. Aloysius J. Rego

Acting Director & Senior Manager, Learning and Professional
Development Unit, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

Classification: (1) Supervisor (2) Contact person(3) Attended 1st Intl. Expert Meeting
2) Formation of a Network with Disaster Management Officers in Countries other than Counterparts
We proceeded with the formation of the network through exchange of information with the following: embassies inTokyo, consulates general in Osaka, Japanese embassies in overseas countries, disaster-reduction research institutes,universities, NGOs and other private organizations, in the case of ADRC member countries; U.N.-affiliated organs(UNCRD, WHO, UNDP, IDNDR Secretariat), disaster-reduction research institutes, universities, NGOs and otherprivate organizations and overseas press, in the case of non-member countries and concerned organs; and ministries
and agencies, prefectural and municipal governments, disaster-reduction research institutes, universities, the massmedia, NGOs and other private organizations in Japan.

2-2 Formation of a Network for Sharing Information on Natural Disasters andDisaster Reduction

2-2-1 Formation of a Network
The ADRC aims to develop a system for sharing information on natural disasters and disaster reduction by taking fulladvantage of networking technology. The system, it is hoped, will ultimately hold all the related information byputting it onto database accessible anytime, anywhere, for reasons of information preservation and greateravailability.

2-2-2 Guideline for the Sharing of Information on Natural Disasters and Disaster Reduction
To realize the sharing of information on natural disasters and disaster reduction, we have designated the following
two functions as a guideline for the information dissemination system of the Center.
* A Portal to Information on Natural Disasters and Disaster Reduction
We will be able to unify information indexes physically located at different places by not only providing theinformation on natural disasters and disaster reduction the Center gathers but also establishing itself as a gateway tosuch information through aggressive efforts to import information from other institutes.
* Communications among the people relating Disaster Management
We will facilitate the exchange and sharing of information so as to reduce damage from natural disasters and put
information accumulated in the system to more advanced use, by setting up and managing a community of users of
the Center's information sharing system.
Only when the above two functions are incorporated will the ADRC's information sharing system become more than amere list of disaster-related information and begin contributing to the reduction of damage caused by naturaldisasters.

2-2-3 Designing the System for Sharing Information on Natural Disasters and Disaster Reduction1) Introducing Database system
The Center accumulates a variety of disaster-related information, including disaster cases, disaster-related laws,
organizational setups, plans, manuals, human resources, educational materials and training. Country information,
classification of information, duration of disasters, classification of disasters are linked to each piece of information
before they are put onto the database. This makes it possible to provide users with information on specific countries
and classifications (judicial system, organizations, cases, training dates, human resources) and reduce the burden ofmaintaining the system.
2) System Configuration
Shown in Fig. 2-2-4-1 is the system configuration of the ADRC. A desktop PC, which servers as a web server andname server, is the key of the system. The database server stores information in database form and provides
information in the appropriate form upon request from outside. The mail server controls e-mail. The GIS server
provides geographical information on natural disasters and disaster reduction. The printer scanner server controls
peripheral devices such as the printer, scanner, MO and CD-RW.
The Center's computer is connected to the Internet via a Fire Wall, assuring the system of a high degree of security
against unauthorized access.
Fig. 2-2-4-1 System Configuration

2-3 Consideration of How Advanced Technology Can be Utilized to GatherInformation on Natural Disasters and Disaster Reduction
2-3-1 Background and Policy
The Asian Disaster Reduction Center began by identifying current technical challenges to be tackled in setting up aDisaster Information Clearing House and an Internet GIS (Geographical Information System), which employ
technologies designed to meet future requirements for high-speed, high-capacity computers and networks with awider bandwidth.

2-3-2 Disaster Information Clearing House
The disaster information clearing house provides information on the location of information resources upon requestfrom users to encourage the effective use of these resources which are found at many different locations. The systemgreatly facilitates searching for the types of information users need.
Replies to users take diverse forms: some are as simple as information on the location of database, whereas others
contain a combination of more advanced information such as the location of primary data needed for data analysis byusers, or the location of web sites describing analysis methods or case studies of analysis. In addition, we will
introduce other types of information for which the system will carry out elementary computing, such as informationon the location of a satellite necessary for obtaining the latest remote sensing data of a specific region.
In this project, we will carry out an actual proof test of a prototype system to identify challenges for practical use andnecessary specifications. In fiscal 1998, we designed the system's functions and platform, based on which equipment
was introduced and the basic part of the system was developed.

2-3-3 Internet GIS
The Internet GIS has the following two functions:
1. To control from a remote machine a geographic information system running on the server via the Internet andreceive the result at the remote location
This will facilitate the formulation of disaster reduction plans and emergency measures when a disaster occurs by
categorizing various data on disaster-reduction and fundamental geographic information (political maps, topography,waters and population) and making it possible to perform analysis using the data from a remote location.
2. To develop a new index by adding geographic information to information on natural disasters and disaster
reduction provided on the Internet
This aims at achieving a more advanced user interface through the creation of a new information sorting measure byadding a 2-dimensional index of geographical information to the existing indexes, most of which are currently basedon alphanumeric characters.
This project aims at developing the Internet GIS, on which disaster-management-related geographic information
concerning actual disasters is provided in real time to help gain an understanding of associated problems, anddeveloping and evaluating a user interface which uses geographic information as an index. In fiscal 1998, we designed
the system, introduced equipment and constructed the system.

2-3-4 Future Policy
We will start constructing a full-scale system to act as a disaster information clearing house to complete ourprototype. We will then reconsider what information to deal with, and will then re-evaluate the user interface,
hardware and software, to make the system more practical.
The basic portion of the Internet GIS has already been completed, and system evaluation will commence soon. At thetime of writing, we are planning to evaluate the system by gathering, analyzing and providing real-time information
on one domestic case using aerial photographs and one overseas case using satellite data.