Sagar Vani and India Quake - An Overview of the Technology Used for Disaster Management

Sagar Vani and India Quake are mobile apps which were released by the Government of India for dissemination of information regarding natural disasters like earthquakes. This article briefly explains the role of technology in disaster management and socio-economic development. Hence this topic assumes significance from the perspective of Geography, Natural Disasters and Science & Technology.

Aspirants would find this topic very helpful while preparing for the IAS Exam.

Disaster Management – Role Played by Technology  (Sagar Vani & India Quake)

Ministry of Earth Science has launched two mobile apps

1. ‘India Quake’ for the dissemination of earthquake parameters.
2. ‘Sagar Vani’ to disseminate ocean information and alerts to the user community in a timely manner.

Sagar Vani App – UPSC

This App will help Fishing community by providing with timely updates on the weather conditions when they venture out into the seas.

1. The ‘Sagar Vani’ is a software platform where several dissemination modes will be incorporated into a single central server.
2. The ‘Sagar Vani’ includes Voice Call, Multi Lingual SMS, Audio Advisory, Mobile Apps (User / Admin modules), Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), GTS, Email, Digital Display Boards, Fax, IVRS, Radio and Television transmission units, Cloud Channels, etc.
3. Sagar Vani also has the capability to give access to different stakeholders such as the State Fisheries department, NGOs, Disaster Management Authorities, and others so that they also shall be able to further circulate these alerts and ocean information to the community of users.
4. This ‘Sagar Vani’ system matches servers used in the developed countries in terms of delivery speed and omni channel capabilities. It is also high on diversity of services. The services will be dispersed in local languages. The system uses advanced AI and machine learning capabilities.
5. Never before seen in India, the government is also utilising the resource of cable network and TV mediums for topical and alert dissemination services.

Socio-Economic Sphere

1. The ‘Sagar Vani’ is intended to cater to the coastal community, particularly to the fishermen folk giving help and guidance for their livelihood and also regarding their maritime safety.

India Quake UPSC

1. The Mobile App is developed by the NCS for automatic dissemination of earthquake parameter (location, time and magnitude) after the occurrence of earthquakes.
2. The App will make information dissemination quicker because there would be no restrictions on the number of recipients.
3. Citizens can download the App and obtain real time location information of the earthquake on his/her cell phone.
4. Apart from the administrative and scientific advantages of the App, it will aid in decreasing alarm and panic amid people during an earthquake.
5. For example, if an earthquake occurs in Hindukush region which is in Afghanistan but is intensely felt in Haryana, then the people residing in Haryana will know within minutes that the disaster has really happened in Afghanistan and not in Haryana.
6. There are two categories of events: scrutinized and unscrutinized.
7. Unscrutinized events: happens during those earthquakes whose parameters have been assessed automatically by the software through the incoming waveform data from remote stations. The NCS then scrutinizes and confirms these solutions which form what is called scrutinized events.

The above details would help candidates prepare for UPSC 2021.

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