Wind Induced Damages to Roofs and Mitigation: A Sri Lankan Case StudyÌý
Research Student: Ms Biyanka EkanayakeÌý ÌýÌýResearch Supervisor: Dr. Udayangani Kulatunga
This research investigates the factors affecting the wind impact on roofs and the strategies to mitigate those impacts through a qualitative research approach. It further explores the current measures undertaken in this context and challenges in materialising the desired objectives. This is a 4 months project funded by the Senate Research Committee (SRC) short term grants of ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ.
Improving resilience of coastal communities
Main contact: Dr Menaha Thayaparan
This is collaborative project that aims to carry out an assessment of physical and economic coastal vulnerability of South Asia. It will build an economic and social index and combined index in order to improve the resilience of coastal communities to the impact of natural disastersÌý
Objectives are to:Ìý
•ÌýÌý ÌýDevelop a combined coastal vulnerability indexÌý
•ÌýÌý ÌýMake recommendations for enhanced management of coastal vulnerability and disaster risksÌý
•ÌýÌý ÌýContribute to increased resilience of coastal communities in the respective countries
This work will be the first study which will assess the physical; fiscal; infrastructural; and sociological impacts. Information will be gathered from satellite and drone imagery; farmers, agricultural workers, fishermen, local men and women and school childrenÌý
Focussing on India, the Philippines, China and Sri Lanka
Partners:
•ÌýÌý ÌýUK - Solent University (Lead), University College London, University of West of England
•ÌýÌý ÌýIndia - University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Anand Agricultural University, Institute of Economic Growth, Indian Space Research Organisation, Indian Institution of Technology, Kharagpur
•ÌýÌý ÌýPhilippines - Da La Salle University, Local Government Academy, Makati, Manila, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office
•ÌýÌý ÌýChina - Chinese Academy of Sciences,Ìý
•ÌýÌý ÌýSri Lanka - ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ
Publication: Kantamaneni, K.; Sudha Rani, N.; Rice, L.; Sur, K.; Thayaparan, M.; Kulatunga, U.; Rege, R.; Yenneti, K.; Campos, L.C. A, (2019), Systematic Review of Coastal Vulnerability Assessment Studies along Andhra Pradesh, India: A Critical Evaluation of Data Gathering, Risk Levels and Mitigation Strategies. Water , 11(2) , 393.
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Funded byÌýGlobal Challenge Research Fund (forÌýinitial data collection)
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Use of Big Data for Emergency Warning: The Case of Sri Lanka
Research Supervisor: Dr. Udayangani KulatungaÌý Research Student: Akhila Rathnasiri
Big Data provides the opportunity to gather more information in a lesser time. Hence, Big Data is identified as a great catalyst for disaster response and, for better understanding on the damage situation and decision-making. The intervention of Sri Lankan service providers for a successful evacuation during disasters and extraction of Big Data on the human behavioural patterns during disasters to identify the evacuation pathways and communities with high risk are still in a primary stage. Therefore, this project aims to enhance the use of Big Data for disaster resilience in Sri Lanka with reference to emergency warning.ÌýThis is a 4 months project funded by the Senate Research Committee (SRC) short term grants of ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ.ÌýÌýÌý
Publication:Ìý
Use of Social Media for Disaster Management (Undergraduate thesis)
Student:ÌýMsÌýArchchana ShandraseharanÌýÌýResearch Supervisor: Dr. Udayangani Kulatunga
In Sri Lanka, though there are enough techniques used to identify the disasters, they are not sufficient for Early Warning. In addition to this, the available EW techniques also only capable to disseminate urgent alerts to the affected areas while this restriction made the process ineffective in disaster management. Due to this lack of effectiveness inÌýEWÌýsystems, it makes catastrophic effects to the people and property.ÌýThoughÌýKim et al. (2016) suggestedÌýthe social media can be one of the best solutions which can enhance the effectiveness ofÌýEWÌýsystem all over the world, it has not extensively explored with prior to the Sri Lankan context. This research is focusing on enhancing the EW stage of disaster management in Sri Lanka and improve the quality of assistance provided to people related to disaster management in terms ofÌýEWÌýthrough social media.
Publication:Ìý