How IoT Devices Can Help Monitor Disaster-Prone Areas

Disasters like floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and so on happen all over the world and at an increasing frequency. They have been known to cause the most destruction of property, environments, and most importantly, human lives. After such incidents, timely detection and intervention have the ability to save lives and lessen disaster effects.

This is where IoT or the Internet of Things comes in. IoT is a system of interrelated things that monitor events and will communicate data with one another and User Interfaces in real time. IoT will use its sensors, smart devices, applications, and cloud based systems to monitor a specific environmental parameter, supply a warning of a possible threatening situation, and provide alerts to the affected communities.

In areas at risk of disasters, IoT can provide real time accommodation and preparation for not only local governing authorities, but also local residents. Local officials can use IoT to monitor changing circumstances from increasing water levels to tectonic activity. IoT devices are critical to disaster prevention and mitigation to ensure longer and healthier lives with less property damage.

Understanding IoT in Disaster Management

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of devices in our daily lives that are connected to the Internet which allows them to send and receive data. In disaster management, IoT devices gather live data about environmental conditions and human risk.

As a starting point, sensors send readings of water levels, air quality, soil movement or temperature change. The reading is transmitted to the system's central intelligence which considers the readings for trends or threats to potential disaster. IoT creates monitoring solutions and offers instantaneous notices to the community or authorities. This level of data lets people respond faster than would eventually happen naturally - possibly saving lives and reducing destruction.

For more on how technology aids in disaster tracking, see Tracking and Managing Disasters With The Aid of Technology.

Types of IoT Devices Used for Disaster Monitoring

There are many different devices in the IoT category that monitor types of disasters. These devices will raise alerts based on specific risks, and whether there is a specific threshold exceeded. Some examples of devices are:

• Sensors Detecting Earthquakes, Floods, and Landslides: These sensors will identify ground vibrations, changes in system pressure, soil moisture field monitoring, snow temperature sensors, or soil vibrations. These devices support and help predict groups of events or conditions prior to them happening and becoming disasters.
• Weather Stations Tracking Storms, Hurricane Events, and Heatwaves: These devices monitor the level of rain, temperature levels, wind speeds, and humidity levels. The devices will produce alerts for detecting storms, hurricanes, dangerous heat levels, and much more.
• Drones and IoT devices with satellites: Drones come with a range of sensors and cameras to monitor hard to reach areas and terrestrial causes. Satellites help provide data on a large area for climate-related programming.
• Smart Cameras/Security Devices: Smart cameras connected to an IoT network can assist in detecting wildfires, flooding, and other hazards, and send alerts to authorities.

How IoT Devices Help Monitor Disaster

The working principles of IoT devices for the monitoring of disaster-prone areas consist of them providing real-time monitoring of these areas that may potentially face a natural disaster. By continuous data acquisition from a set of sensors, cameras, and weather stations, the system can give out warnings by detecting initial signs of hazards, such as rising water levels, unusual ground movement, or extreme weather changes.

Upon the identification of a threat of a disaster, there are immediate notifications that are sent out through an IoT system to local authorities, emergency responders, and residents to construct those evacuation measures, securing property, and applying other precautions.

Data from IoT devices also become useful for data-oriented decision making. This enables teams engaged in emergency response to effectively plan rescues, allocate resources to areas required most urgently, and respond swiftly to changes. When integrated with the neighbouring impact of any local disaster management system, the IoT helps to improve the frequency and accuracy of monitoring, improve response times, and therefore reduce the likelihood of harm and avoid loss of life entirely.

Earthquake early warning networks relate closely to Myanmar Earthquake 2025: Crisis Persists as Thousands Wait for Lifesaving Relief.

Real-World Uses of IoT for Disaster Monitoring

Many countries around the world are using IoT technologies to monitor disasters, and provide early warnings. The goal is to rapidly discover hazards and provide early warnings for responses that lead to saving lives.

Here are some examples:

• Smart Flood Detection System: Flood detection systems gauge river levels, drainage levels, and other sensors surrounding the community, and alert the community when flooding is imminent.
• Earthquake Early Warning Networks: Earthquake networks conduct alerts using seismic sensors to quickly discover earthquakes and send alerts to communities before shaking arrives.
• Wildfire Monitoring with Drones: Armed with thermal cameras, drones in some areas of the world can quickly detect fire to alert firefighters for early and proactive interventions.
• Landslide Monitoring Sensors: Monitoring systems use instruments that track soil movements and directions, as well as, the amounts of rainfall to provide alerts to citizens living in high-risk areas.

Conclusion

IoT devices are transforming the way we monitor and respond to disasters. IoT devices are enabling faster access to real time data, early warnings, and predictive data which are enabling communities to prepare for and respond to natural hazards in a timely and effective manner. From detecting floods and earthquakes to monitoring wildfires and near real time landslides, IoT devices have made disaster management programs faster, more effective, and more accurate.