Mixed Reality Post-Disaster Tools to Plan Intervention

Synopsis:

PostDisaster addresses critical gaps in disaster management by leveraging advanced technologies to enhance decision-making and resource allocation during environmental crises. The project integrates AI-driven satellite image analysis for identifying affected areas, drone-enabled 3D reconstruction for real-time, high-resolution visualization of disaster zones, and MR-supported tools for on-the-ground infrastructure damage assessment. These innovations enable faster, more accurate evaluations of disaster impacts, allowing for optimized relief operations and safer planning. By combining these technologies, PostDisaster improves disaster response efficiency and resilience, providing valuable tools for governments, aid organizations, and private stakeholders.

Abstract:

Environmental disasters present one of the most pressing challenges faced by humanity. Their increasing frequency and severity have highlighted significant shortcomings in existing technological solutions for the efficient and cost-effective recording, assessment, and management of disaster-related damages. Decision-makers are in urgent need of an integrated platform that can enable the rapid evaluation of disaster impacts and support effective planning in near real time. At the same time, advances in digitalization, coupled with emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), and remote sensing, provide an unprecedented opportunity to revolutionize disaster management practices.

This project, PostDisaster, seeks to address these critical gaps by developing state-of-the-art tools for damage analysis, action planning, and decision-making following environmental disasters such as floods and earthquakes. By integrating cutting-edge innovations across three technological levels—satellite, aerial, and ground—the project aims to significantly improve disaster response capabilities. Through the application of AI-driven satellite image analysis, drone-enabled 3D reconstruction, and MR-based infrastructure damage assessment tools, PostDisaster will offer decision-makers a robust framework for understanding and managing disaster impacts.

AI-supported satellite image analysis serves as the foundation for identifying and examining disaster-affected areas. This technology generates essential data for proactive planning, enabling decision-makers to allocate resources with precision and efficiency. At the aerial level, drones capture high-resolution images of disaster zones, and an innovative algorithm reconstructs the entire area in three dimensions with remarkable speed and accuracy. The resulting 3D models can be explored in real time, providing an immersive, dynamic visualization of the situation through VR, which is especially valuable for remote decision-making. These capabilities help assess damages, prioritize critical areas, and design optimized relief measures. At the ground level, the project introduces MR-based tools to allow users to subjectively analyze infrastructure damages. Using MR glasses, the appraisers can inspect the damaged areas, thus marking high-dangerous. The system creates a detailed 3D model of the structure, which can later be revisited in VR for further analysis. This method not only enhances the accuracy and transparency of damage assessments but also reduces the time and effort required for evaluation.

The comprehensive integration of these technologies brings significant advantages to disaster management operations. For emergency organizations and authorities, PostDisaster will enable quicker, more targeted planning and resource allocation tailored to specific operational scenarios. By identifying potential hazards early, it will also help mitigate risks for first responders, ensuring safer and more effective operations in disaster-stricken areas. Economically, the project positions its participants as pioneers in disaster management solutions, fostering innovation and opening new market opportunities.

Moreover, the project aligns with broader objectives to enhance community resilience by developing tools that directly address the challenges posed by environmental disasters. Through its innovative use of VR, MR, and satellite technologies, PostDisaster aims to elevate the effectiveness and efficiency of disaster response strategies. By equipping governments, aid organizations, and private entities with cutting-edge tools, the project will not only improve the immediate response to environmental disasters but also contribute to long-term resilience and preparedness.