This week’s emerging theme is focused on an age-old problem, how to get things from point A to point B. The importance of logistics and supply chains in emergency management cannot be overstated. It is a topic that intersects all phases of emergency management but is perhaps most important in the preparation stage. In this section, I’ll provide a bit of background, then you will look at a few videos, agency presentations, and short readings. We’ll end with a consideration of cutting-edge trends in the field that are having or have the potential for big impacts. Finally, you will take what you've learned into a discussion forum and bounce ideas off your classmates. I have also provided some links to optional reading if you want to learn more about this topic.
We will begin with some quick background information about disaster and humanitarian logistics. The first video provides an overview description of what humanitarian logistics is all about. Then there are two videos that show what this looks like on the ground during some recent disasters. Finally, a news article explores what can go wrong if one part of the supply chain is disrupted - blue tarps!
Watch: The Logistics Cluster in 2:30 Minutes
For further reading (optional):
Watch: Crowley and FEMA Accelerate Relief Aid to Puerto Rico (1:18 minutes)
Watch: Logistics On Location: Supporting Hurricane Maria (2:56 minutes)
Read: Puerto Rico: urgently needed tarps delayed by failed $30m FEMA Contract [2] from The Guardian
Next, let's consider some of the ways geospatial approaches are used in humanitarian logistics and supply chains. Start by reviewing what Esri is doing by watching the following short video, visiting and reviewing the Logistics Planning Website [3] and trying out the Logistics Planning App [4]. After you finish looking at these resources, contrast this work with what Google is doing in this space by looking at their Google Maps Platform: Transportation Website [5].
Watch: Watch this 3:33 minute demonstration video and then explore the live app on the Esri website
We’ll end with a consideration of some of the cutting-edge trends in logistics R&D and practice that are having or have the potential for big impacts on humanitarian and disaster operations.
DHL is one of the major world logistics companies and they produce an annual tech trend assessment for their industry. I'd like you to consider how they characterize the current state of the art and how that is changing rapidly due to developments in technology and operational models. Start with the video and then move on to the report linked below.
Watch: DHL Data Analytics video (1:27 minutes)
This short video and industry report were developed by the commercial logistics company DHL. It provides some useful insights into where the industry is heading and how new technologies are shaking things up. When you watch this, think about what you read and watched previously and consider how these ideas may or may not match up, particularly in the emergency management context.
DHL Data Analytics (click image)
Review: Logistics Trend Radar Industry Report [8] (also found in Lesson 4 of Canvas)
This discussion will be graded out of 15 points.
Please see the Discussion Expectations and Grading page under the Orientation and Course Resources module for details.
Links
[1] https://logcluster.org
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/28/puerto-rico-urgently-needed-tarps-delayed-by-failed-30m-fema-contract
[3] http://solutions.arcgis.com/emergency-management/help/logistics-planning/
[4] http://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=cf4b5a208b0644eabc8ce828b9d33797
[5] https://enterprise.google.com/intl/en/maps/transportation/
[6] https://www.esri.com/videos/watch?videoid=Gnd04-vABwY
[7] http://youtu.be/00wOf3xEQD4
[8] https://www.dhl.com/global-en/home/insights-and-innovation/thought-leadership/trend-reports/future-of-work/interactive-report.html