Kuala lumpur: 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.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nordin highlighted that the digitalisation initiative, beginning with data bank collection, marks the first phase. "AI is smarter and takes us to the next level, but we have already begun," he stated after the opening ceremony of the Third ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Urban Emergency Rescue. He emphasized the necessity for AI technology in JBPM to enhance forecasting capabilities and support decision-making through data analysis.
Nordin pointed out that China's advancements in rescue technology, including AI, drones, and robotics, were focal points of interest at the workshop. These technologies are employed at various disaster management stages in China. "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 mentioned.
JBPM aims to incorporate insights and technologies from the workshop, which was a collaborative effort between China, Laos, and Malaysia, to bolster the country's disaster management proficiency. Seven JBPM personnel began training on September 14, focusing on structural or geohazard disaster response and water-based rescue, including underwater rescue. This training is crucial for exchanging experiences and learning international operational methods.
Nordin underscored the importance of cross-border and inter-agency cooperation in disaster management. "Disasters know no borders and require a joint response. We hope to secure cooperation from all countries from this workshop," he remarked. Despite technological advancements, he noted that human expertise and agency collaboration remain essential in rescue operations.
The Third ARF Workshop on Urban Emergency Rescue, conducted from September 17 to 21 in Nanning, China, carried the theme "Artificial Intelligence Empowering Urban Emergency Rescue." It attracted over 400 participants, including senior officials from 27 ARF participants and representatives from international organizations such as UN agencies and the ASEAN Secretariat.
The program included a Senior Officials' Meeting, seminars, a multi-hazard field exercise with 21 Chinese and international rescue teams, and an exhibition of smart rescue technology. The field exercise featured smart rescue equipment like underwater robots, firefighting robot dogs, and large-scale multi-purpose drones for dealing with earthquakes, geological disasters, and water rescues.
The workshop also marked the launch of the China-ASEAN Disaster Management and Rescue Cooperation Centre, designed for technology cooperation, training, and cross-border disaster response coordination.