From Noraizura Ahmad
NANNING, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is undergoing a digitalisation process to sharpen its decision-making and deploy assets and resources more accurately and swiftly.
Deputy director-general (Operations) Datuk Nordin Pauzi said the move involves collecting and sharing data across agencies, paving the way for a more comprehensive use of AI in disaster management.
"This digitalisation, namely data bank collection, is the first phase. AI is smarter and takes us to the next level, but we have already begun," he told Bernama after the opening ceremony of the Third ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Urban Emergency Rescue here today.
Nordin said JBPM needs AI technology to help forecast situations more efficiently and to support decision-making based on parameters and data analysis from relevant agencies.
He said China's advances in rescue technology, including AI, drones and robotics, were among the areas JBPM focused on at the workshop, as such technologies are deployed at various stages of disaster management.
"In China, we see AI, especially drones and robotics, fully deployed from the earliest stages, from early warning systems, detection, operations to post-action reviews or investigations," he said.
Nordin said JBPM hopes to adapt the experience and technology gained from the workshop, jointly organised by China, Laos and Malaysia, to strengthen the country's disaster management capabilities.
He said seven JBPM personnel were sent for training beginning Sept 14 as part of the programme, with four in structural or geohazard disaster response, and three in water-based rescue, including underwater rescue.
He said the training allowed personnel to exchange experience and learn operational methods in an international environment.
"Cross-border and inter-agency cooperation is crucial in disaster management, because disasters know no borders and require a joint response. We hope to secure cooperation from all countries from this workshop,” he said.
Nordin said that while technology keeps advancing, the human factor remains vital in rescue operations, particularly in expertise and the ability of agencies to cooperate.
The Third ARF Workshop on Urban Emergency Rescue, held from Sept 17 to 21 in Nanning, China, is themed "Artificial Intelligence Empowering Urban Emergency Rescue".
It drew over 400 participants, comprising senior officials from 27 ARF participants and representatives of international organisations such as UN agencies, the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.
The programme features a Senior Officials' Meeting, seminars, a multi-hazard field exercise involving 21 Chinese and rescue teams from 11 countries and over 300 personnel, plus an exhibition of smart rescue technology and a tour of an AI innovation competition for firefighting and rescue.
The field exercise also showcased smart rescue equipment, such as underwater robots, firefighting robot dogs and large-scale multi-purpose drones, for earthquakes, geological disasters and water rescues.
The workshop's opening also saw the launch of the China-ASEAN Disaster Management and Rescue Cooperation Centre, a platform for technology cooperation, training and cross-border disaster response coordination.
-- BERNAMA