AI-Driven Disaster Response

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Akşit, the Coordinator of the World Alliance for Digitalization in Disaster and Emergency Management (WADDEM), participated as a speaker in the seminar titled ‘Unsolvable Problems and Artificial Intelligence’ held at Izmir University of Economics (IUE). Stating that they have developed new software utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in disaster emergency response systems, Akşit said it is possible to intervene and detect the effects of a disaster within milliseconds, which is one thousandth of a second. Highlighting that they have also held discussions regarding the software in Turkey, Prof. Dr. Akşit stated, “We could pioneer a brand-new industry globally.”

WADDEM Coordinator Prof. Dr. Akşit, who provided significant insights into the impact of AI on earthquake early warning and emergency response systems, returned to Turkey through a repatriation program after working for 21 years as the Head of the Software Engineering Department at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. He has since conducted numerous field studies focusing on digital disaster management systems.

Prof. Dr. Akşit explained that following these studies they have developed a groundbreaking technology not yet available worldwide. He noted that, with sufficient investment, disaster impacts could be identified within milliseconds. Expressing that it’s possible to determine how many buildings have collapsed and the locations of individuals, Prof. Dr. Akşit said, “Once these detections are made, computers automatically calculate the necessary resources and even direct them optimally. Currently, when a disaster strikes, experts manually coordinate teams, and the number of teams varies depending on the scale of the disaster. This is done manually everywhere in the world."

“NO DOUBT ABOUT IT”

Emphasizing that AI can analyze data to produce actionable outcomes, Prof. Dr. Akşit stated, “AFAD (Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) has established a digitalization group. New technology needs to be developed. The Presidential Office requested information from me, which I provided. We authored the strategic report on digitalization in disaster response. This report needs to be implemented. We have no doubt that we could lead a new global industry. Disasters are becoming increasingly severe, so we need to invest in this area.” Reminding that WADDEM includes scientists from 17 countries, Prof. Dr. Akşit said that many computer experts in Turkey have written to AFAD to offer their support for the software.