An Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-Driven Disaster Management System: A Case of Firefighting in Mumbai

The increasing frequency and intensity of disasters pose a big challenge while building resilient cities. Unplanned urbanization has further complicated the matter. In the era of building technology-driven smart cities, there is a lack of effective Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based disaster management implementation and strategic planning. To address these concerns, an ICT-based system is developed and tested during the fire drills. Testing of the system was done in sync with the workflow of a proposed framework for the city of Mumbai. The framework consists of an upgraded local disaster body, namely Smart Disaster Management Body (SDMB). The body is built upon the idea of ICT. Framework components and gaps are identified by attending fire drills, reviewing the existing literature, and conducting pre- and post-system implementation controlled group surveys with stakeholders. Results of the stakeholder surveys indicate the solution to be more efficient in disaster management actions. And, it can address the challenges arising in quick response situations and therefore can help in building resilient smart cities.