Thinking Assistive Disaster AI

A clear example of the interactions of sensors, logic, decisions and leveraging experience.  Some general ideas of the possibilities.

Assistive AI in Decreasing Natural Disaster Damage

Assistive AI is an invaluable tool to minimize the damages of natural disasters.  By Jack Williams  in SmartDataCollective

 A few years ago, we talked about the benefits of using AI and big data in disaster relief. We have recently seen how important these applications are, as the damage of natural disasters is worse than ever.

Mother Nature has been busier than ever this year, with natural disasters adding to the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of hurricanes have wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast, and wildfires recently devastated the West Coast. Unfortunately, these severe weather events now occur more frequently. In seven of the last 10 years, there have been 10 or more weather-related disasters with costs exceeding $1 billion each. Among the 115 costly catastrophes since 2010 were so-called “1,000-year floods,” Category 5 hurricanes, and the most massive wildfires in history.

These problems put the importance of big data and AI to the test, as we strive to fight the problems they cause.

Worsening Disasters Highlight the Need for New Assistive AI Solutions

The problem is that, despite their calamitous effects, many natural disasters can be surprisingly difficult to spot in their beginning stages. For example, the 2018 Camp Fire in California that tore through large portions of the state, eventually burning over 150,000 acres and destroying more than 18,000 structures, began in the blink of an eye; it spread over the first seven miles in less than 90 minutes.  ... "