KUALA LUMPUR: MyIDEA, a disaster information system, will facilitate faster, more coordinated, and systematic rescue missions, particularly during natural disasters, according to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang.
The minister explained that MyIDEA, which was officially launched today, utilizes satellite technology to expedite rescue operations in a streamlined manner.
He said, “In the past, victims would call or send a WhatsApp message about being trapped in a specific location. However, during a flood, searching by address may not be feasible. The road may not be visible, or the rescue team might not be familiar with the area, leading to a variety of challenges.”
He further emphasized, “With this application, we will be able to pinpoint the exact location of the victims, and detect them in real-time.”
MyIDEA, developed by the Malaysian Space Agency (MySA), serves the purpose of aiding agencies involved in managing and providing flood assistance. It allows for the detection of victims’ locations within five minutes and is expected to expedite rescue efforts by 50%.
The system is utilized to assess the situation of victims, identify their exact location, ensure coordinated and monitored rescue management, and archive information for future reference and visual display.
Azlikamil Napiah, the director-general of MySA, also stated during the press conference that the effectiveness of MyIDEA relies on accurate and up-to-date databases of each area, and local communities’ involvement is crucial in developing these databases.
Considering the reliance on internet access for the platform, he did not dismiss the possibility of requesting assistance from parties such as the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) or telecommunications companies to install communication towers in areas with no internet connectivity, if necessary.
Through the MyIDEA system, those engaged in disaster management efforts will send victims a link via short messaging system (SMS) or WhatsApp. The victims will have to click on the link and fill in the required information, including the number of victims and their condition.
MyIDEA will then track the victims’ locations using satellite technology before deploying the assistance team.
Furthermore, this application enables direct supervision of search and rescue (SAR) operations, particularly monitoring the movement of the rescue team toward the victims’ location, while also optimizing SAR assets by avoiding duplicated efforts. – Bernama
Credit: The Star : News Feed
