1.MANDISA SYSTEM

The MANDISA system is the result of a partnership formed between DiMP- Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihood Programme based at UCT and AfriGIS – a multi disciplinary IT company specializing in technologies like GIS and the Internet. The combined knowledge base of DiMP and AfriGIS drew on experts in the fields of disaster mitigation, information technology (IT) and geographic information systems (GIS).
The MANDISA system is aimed at providing a management tool for decision makers to be able to optimize their decisions based on the frequency of different events (trends) on a spatial basis and be able to shift their approach from a reactive one to a proactive one. The system was further developed keeping in mind that non-technical end-users would also utilize the software. A user friendly and effective system that would provide diversity over all disaster related fields had to be developed.
The combined expertise of DiMP and AfriGIS produced the basic conceptualization of the MANDISA system.

The concept basically entails that a disaster occurs as the combined result of a triggering event and one or more contributing risk factors, i.e. hard rain in itself can not be classified as a disaster, but due to an inadequate/ blocked storm water system (contributing risk factor) this trigger (hard rain) can result in flooding (disaster) and impact on several disciplines, which would then imply reconstruction and recovery.
From the above-mentioned disaster concept the MANDISA software system was developed. The different components to the MANDISA system [version 1.0] are indicated in Figure 2 below.

DISASTER/INCIDENT OCCURRENCE® ® ® ® ® PRO-ACTIVE PLANNING

(DISASTER MITIGATION)

INPUT OUTPUT

-Data Capturing - -Desktop Reporting Module

Module -Internet Reporting Module

-Data Input Module

1.1 Input
As good decisions require accurate and comprehensive information, different methods for entering data into the system have been, and are still being developed. Currently two different options for data input exist:

· Through the data capturing module in the case of new data being captured (GUI); or
· Through a generic data importing module where data from an external source (already captured) can be imported into the MANDISA system (batch processing).

The data-capturing module enables the user to capture data through graphical user interfaces (GUI) specifically developed for the MANDISA system. In order to develop a comprehensive information system, the relevant fields to be captured in the MANDISA system was determined through various workshops held with experts over the entire spectrum of disaster management and mitigation. The GUI enables the user to capture data related to the

· Disaster (type, date, declared, GIS location through a geographical map interface, photos, etc.),
· Triggering Event (type, duration, intensity, etc.),
· Contributing Risk Factors
· Impacts (people, buildings, public infrastructure humanitarian relief organizations, etc.)
· Reconstruction and Recovery (buildings, public infrastructure, agriculture, etc.).

The primary disaster types that can be captured through the system includes:
· Flood
· Fire
· Earth Movement
· Drought Disaster
· Storm Disasters
· Industrial Explosion/ Accident
· Transport Accident/ Disaster
· Social/ Health Emergency

The triggering events are categorized under the following types:
· Climate/ Weather
· Hydrological
· Geological
· Biological
· Technological/ Human Induced

The main categories for contributing risk factors are as follows:
· Environment
· Building Infrastructure
· Service Infrastructure
· Siting/ Location
· Social/ Behavioral
· Management/ Organizational
· Climatic Co-risk factors
· Emergency preparedness/ response

All of the above mentioned categories for disasters, triggers and contributing risk factors are further sub divided into the different types under each category.
The generic data import module enables users to import data into the MANDISA system from existing external systems, i.e. data that has already been captured in other systems can be imported into the MANDISA system through a batch process. It therefore illuminates the need to re-capture data (through the GUI) already contained in other systems. The functionality is further provided to geographically locate the disaster, if this has not been done in the source system. Information from various sources can therefore be contained in a single system – MANDISA.
All the data obtained from the above mentioned procedures are stored in the MANDISA database from where the output functionalities are provided.

1.2 Output
As the primary aim of the system is to enable decision makers, planners, disaster prevention and mitigation officers, disaster/ economical analysts and various other user-groups to use the data both as an information system as well as a proactive planning tool, a system that will enable various means of reporting had to be developed. The Internet reporting module is provided on a web platform that is easy accessible to a wide audience. The user has the ability to analyze or view information related to a single disaster or analyze trends based on a selection of disasters (multiple disasters). The user is presented with a query wizard to guide the user in undermining data contained in the MANDISA database. After specifying the criteria for the query (through the wizard), the user can select the type of output as either a geographical map, table, predefined report graph or view the photos associated with the disaster/ disasters. All the output types for the Internet reporting module will be presented in HTML format.
A similar type of output tool will be provided for the desktop application, although more intensive queries will be extracted from the system. As query results will be generated in locally installed applications, additional functionalities related to the further analysis and formatting of the outputs will be evident.
The MANDISA system will therefore provide the functionality of augmenting data over a wide range of disasters/ incidents. The MANDISA system does not just cater for "large" natural disasters, but also for "small", highly localized disasters, which are mostly human-induced. MANDISA will enable decision-makers and planners to make inform decisions on Disaster Management and Mitigation and provide a pro-active planning tool to assist in the mammoth task of Disaster Mitigation.