Asgard

Asgard is software that allows complex models to be run in a homogeneous, distributed and multi-user environment. It creates a uniform interfaces to any type of modelling software. The interface is published as a web service, which allows systems, portals or stand alone applications to use any model. Asgard also provides mechanisms for parallel computing and many simultaneous requests. It is therefore suitable for requests from a website where the traffic can fluctuate.

Asgard has also a scraping component, which allows active searching for model inputs. This is particularly useful to follow real time events, such as natural disasters.

Asgard models have certain characteristics in common:

• A model is run when the appropriate phenomenon is detected. Salient features of the event are passed to the model as parameters.
• The models comprise a series of sub-processes, including at least one geo-referenced analysis, and are computationally intensive.
• The models are long-running processes, and cannot be expected to provide ‘real-time’ responses.
• The models comprise an analysis phase that can trigger asynchronous messages.

Asgard then, provides a framework for running the models—it will schedule processes that perform automatic event detection, and when an event is detected, will start off the appropriate model, passing it the parameters for the event. If the analysis phase of the model returns an indication that an automated response is required, Asgard will send messages to its subscribers.

Documents:

• Asgard System Design: PDF.
• Asgard System Description: PDF.

Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System

GDACS is a web-based platform that combines existing web-based disaster information management systems with the aim to alert the international community in case of major sudden-onset disasters and to facilitate the coordination of international response during the relief phase of the disaster.
GDACS is comprised of the following elements:

• A set of standards to ensure interoperability between existing alert and response coordination systems
• A set of working procedures to ensure predictability and reliability of information creation and exchange during crisis response
• Stakeholders that commit to provide related information according to the standards and the working procedures

Aim

The aim of GDACS is to provide the international disaster response community with a platform to ensure that disaster alerts and information relevant to the international disaster response is exchanged interactively in a structured and predictable manner among all concerned.

Link: http://www.gdacs.org

Interactive Disaster Analysis System

Asgard can also be triggered interactively. This allows a configuration for interactively starting analyses for certain events. Analysts can run models for natural disasters (simulated or real) or other events for which models are available and obtain automatic reports.

Risk and Vulnerability Assessment for Humanitarian Crises

To support decision makers with regards to humanitarian crises and to support disaster impact models, work is ongoing related to qualifying the risk and vulnerability of people. Part of this involves integrating existing work of colleagues: see link.