Risk Management

Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System - GDACS

In the course of phased development of operational capacity and services, within the topic "Risk management", we provide real-time contact with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System – GDACS. The web-based system provides near real-time alerts about natural disasters around the world. In addition, web-based tools to research and facilitate response coordination, including media monitoring, map catalogues and Virtual On-Site Operations Coordination Centre, based on the website, are available. In its turn, the geo-portal Bulgarian Spatial Data Infrastructure (BSDI) provides relevant, constantly expanded thematic information for different risks from natural and anthropogenic disasters and crises in GIS environment. Thus we propose to our customers and partners, the opportunity to receive at the same time information on local, regional and global level.

ECNIS, ASDE, ReSAC introduce a new service – information for natural disasters, accidents and actions, related to them. An automatic search system is developed, that provides daily bulletin for disasters and accidents, which you can see. As a value-added service, an assessment of the tendencies, for a municipality, region or national level, based on the received information is available under request.

Scientific-practical Tasks

Scientific-practical tasks, conducted in public interest, through public-private partnership between the State Agency for information technologies and communications / now Executive Agency "Electronic Communication Networks and Information Systems"/, public and scientific-practical organizations, institutes, universities and experts. Joint assessment on pilot applications of new technologies and a efficient methodological approach have been developed under a collaboration agreement between ASDE and JRC. Some of the activities under risk management are the basis of an initiative for a National center for applied research and education for sustainable development and risk management, which has been proposed jointly between the State Agency for information technologies and communications (now Executive Agency "Electronic Communication Networks and Information Systems"), the Agency for Sustainable Development and Eurointegration – ECOREGIONS and Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridksi". Scientific and business organizations have been included. This initiative is presented by the Sofia University to the Ministry of economy, energy and tourism. The proposed solutions, analysis, maps and other information are based on an integrated approach in solving tasks, by Bulgarian specialists and in partnership with foreign organizations, institutes and experts, in accordance with the best practice in the EU and over the world.

Implementation of these tasks is in accordance both with national programming documents and European Union directives, for example:

  • Crisis Management Law, 01.03.2005, section ІV;
  • Act of the Council of Ministers 761, from 2004г.;
  • Act of the Council of Ministers, от 31.01.2008г.;
  • Act of the Council of Ministers, от 22.02.2008г.;
  • Development plan of ECNIS;
  • Directive 2007/2/EU – for establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community
  • Directive 2007/60/EU – for assessment and management of flood risk;
  • Preliminary development of a Ratification Bill of an agreement between Republic of Bulgaria and EU, establishing a framework for participation of Republic of Bulgaria in the European Union Crisis management;
  • Information about NATO System for crisis response (NATO Crisis Response System – NCRS);
  • Decision 1999/847/EC as regards the extension of the Community action programme in the field of civil protection;
  • COMMISSION DECISION of 29 December 2003, laying down rules for the implementation of Council Decision 2001/792/EC Euratom establishing a Community mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions;
  • The European initiative Global Monitoring for environment and security

Different aspects of scientific and applied tasks are performed within bilateral projects such as:

  • Bulgarian-French project – BULGARISK – "Integration of satellite imagery in the operational procedures of hazard management in Bulgaria";
  • Project within the bilateral partnership between Bulgaria and Federal Province Free State of Bavaria (Standing Committee Bulgaria-Bavaria – group 9) – "Building a spatial data infrastructure";
  • Project within the bilateral partnership between Bulgaria and Federal Province Baden-Wuerttemberg – "Exchange of best practices for assessment of potential damages from seismic risk";
  • Partnership in the European Network URBAN-NET in the 6th Framework Programme of the European Union;
  • Cooperation agreement between the Joint Research Center, European Commission (JRC) and the Agency for Sustainable Development and Eurointegration;
  • Other

At this stage the overall program "Risk management" includes the following directions:

  • Floods
  • Earthquakes
  • Forest Fires
  • Disasters and Accidents
  • Pollution
  • Landslides
  • Integrated Risk

In each of these directions, it will be provided a link with useful thematic websites, with a priority of useful information from the JRC (IES - Institute for Environment and Sustainability).

Simulation models and operational services for the listed above risk directions can be found here.

Information in separate sections and thematic layers is in a process of accumulating, processing and experimental implementation and it is a subject of changes, supplement and restructuring.

UP