Acquisition, storage, retrieval and dissemination of disaster related data

We report the design and development of a software system that provides a unified platform for acquisition, storage and retrieval of scientific, situational and infrastructural data in the context of disasters. The system supports (i) data acquisition from heterogeneous sources (including sensor data from various research groups, field data from disaster management agencies and citizens, and relevant information from the internet) and ensures interoperability, (ii) high availability and scalability and (iii) a wide range of data visualization and retrieval modes. We believe that such a system would go a long way in assisting researchers and disaster management agencies in enhancing disaster preparedness, mitigation and recovery operations.