Humanitarian & Disaster Technologist
Writing on technology, crisis response, and the future of humanitarian aid — drawn from 15 years working in the field.
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Off-Grid Resilience: Powering Humanitarian Response
8–12 minutes1,928 wordsRead more: Off-Grid Resilience: Powering Humanitarian ResponseWhen a disaster interrupts electricity, the failure rarely stays confined to the power system. Water pumps stop, vaccine refrigerators lose temperature control, communications equipment becomes dependent on limited batteries, and health facilities may have to ration lighting and medical equipment. In a humanitarian operation, electricity is therefore not a convenience; it is an enabling service that supports public health, communications, logistics, security, and the safe operation of shelters. The most resilient response is not necessarily one that abandons generators altogether. It is one that combines appropriately sized renewable generation, storage, efficient loads, manual fallback procedures, and a realistic fuel plan.…
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Adaptive Infrastructure: Moving Beyond Static Resistance
3–5 minutes749 wordsRead more: Adaptive Infrastructure: Moving Beyond Static ResistanceFor decades, the philosophy of disaster-resilient engineering was built on the concept of “resistance”—designing structures to withstand a specific magnitude of impact, be it a Category 5 hurricane or a major seismic event. However, as the intensity and frequency of environmental stressors accelerate, the limits of static resistance are being reached. The new frontier in engineering is Adaptive Infrastructure. This approach focuses on systems that can sense, respond, and evolve in real-time to external pressures. By integrating Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) with active damping and reconfigurable components, modern engineering is creating a built environment that doesn’t just survive a disaster,…
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The use and benefits of rapid deployable wifi networks in disaster response.
4–6 minutes939 wordsRead more: The use and benefits of rapid deployable wifi networks in disaster response.In the wake of natural disasters, reliable communication infrastructure is crucial for coordinating relief efforts and providing essential services to affected communities. In recent years, rapid deployable WiFi networks have emerged as a promising solution for restoring connectivity in disaster-stricken areas. One organization that has been at the forefront of this effort is Disaster Tech Lab, a non-profit that specializes in providing emergency telecommunications in disaster-affected communities. Disaster Tech Lab has deployed its WiFi networks in a number of disaster-stricken regions, including Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and Nepal after the 2015 earthquake. According to a statement by Disaster Tech…
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Informal volunteerism.
4–7 minutes1,045 wordsRead more: Informal volunteerism.Informal volunteers can play a crucial role in disaster and crisis response, often providing essential support to formal organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). According to a report by NBC News, “when disaster strikes, volunteers are often the first on the scene, and their actions can be critical in the first few hours and days.” These volunteers may not have any official training or affiliation, but they can still make a significant impact through their efforts. One of the main benefits of using informal volunteers in disaster response is their…
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Review: Peli Case 1610
Read more: Review: Peli Case 1610Being able to transport and store your equipment in a safe and secure manner is essential in this line of work. About 5 years ago I switched from duffel bags with padding and cardboard boxes to using Peli cases. Peli is of course one of the leaders in the field of making bombproof cases. The company has been around since 1976 and make hundreds of different cases. There is hardly an use application they Peli does not make a case for. In addition to that they also have a range of inserts for most cases which lets you customise the…
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Review: Goal Zero Nomad 7 solar panel
2–3 minutes525 wordsRead more: Review: Goal Zero Nomad 7 solar panelKeeping your mobile devices powered is a constant challenge in our day-to-day lives. Doing the same when carrying out critical and life-saving work is even more important and challenging. Quite often this challenge is even more complicated by the absence of a main power source. In other words; there is no wall socket of powered USB port that you can plug your charger into. In that case there are very few options; you can use a portable battery pack but eventually that will also run out after 1-2 recharges. As wind power is generally not really portable solar has become…
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Review: Globalstar SPOT Satellite tracker
4–6 minutes938 wordsRead more: Review: Globalstar SPOT Satellite trackerKeeping track of people, teams, vehicles and equipment is of great importance in our line of work. Not only does it help in keeping track of work progress and asset availability but it is also a plus from a security perspective. Knowing where a team or an individual is located, or their last known location if they are suddenly not contactable helps in responding to emergency needs of personnel. For the past 2 years I have used the Globalstar SPOT Gen3 tracker. Features: The SPOT device has a number of functionalities, aside from tracking movement it also has messaging functions…