Relief efforts continue after devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
More than 5,100 people died in the quake, buildings collapsed in seconds and leave thousands trapped under what’s left.
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As emergency responders, troops, rescuers and volunteers scoured the rubble, The international community has also pledged assistance.
Technology is already playing a key role, as it has in previous humanitarian disasters – here are some ways it can be used turkey and Syria over the next few days and weeks.
drone
While drones are increasingly known for their role in modern warfare, especially in ukrainethey are also an invaluable tool during natural disasters.
Numerous images from Turkey and Syria show earthquake The destruction was carried out by drone, which gave emergency responders a clearer picture of what happened.
Spain said it would send drones to Turkey as part of its aid package.
Not only do drones provide a bird’s-eye view, but they can also be equipped with sensors to assess damage — for example by detecting high concentrations of methane, which could indicate a gas supply rupture threatening to explode.
Drones show devastation from Turkey quake
NASA’s FINDER Tool
Packed in a device no bigger than a suitcase, NASA technology can detect heartbeats 30 feet under rubble and has been used to help find survivors earthquake.
In 2015, the space agency’s FINDER (Finding for Disaster and Emergency Responders) tool found four men buried about 10 feet deep under bricks, mud, wood and other debris in the village of Chautara, Nepal.
Two years later, the technology was licensed to companies in Mexico in response to the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Mexico City.
It works by sending low-power microwave signals through gravel and looking for changes in the reflection of those signals — which can be caused by tiny movements like breathing and heartbeats.
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Before and after pictures show earthquake damage
FINDER devices can detect heartbeats under 30 feet of rubble. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/DHS
satellite mapping
Within hours of Monday’s first earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the United Nations activated its Emergency Mapping Satellite Services.
This is essentially a real-time map designed to provide a real-time view of the devastation caused by the earthquake and show the depth and depth of its impact.
But despite its name and function, UNSAT does not operate its own satellites — instead it relies on member states to collect imagery from government agencies and private companies.
The European Union has also switched on its Copernicus satellite system to provide emergency mapping services.
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Satellite map of the area affected by the Turkey-Syria earthquake.Photo: United Nations Satellite Center
satellite internet
Elon Musk Has made a habit of helping in times of crisis—whether popular or not.
His SpaceX Starlink internet service Brought to Ukraine last year to help with war effortBut he deployed engineers to help save a young football team Trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand Less popular in 2018, subsequent rebound end up in court.
As far as the earthquake is concerned, Musk has said that SpaceX is ready to launch Starlink “as soon as possible after the Turkish government approves it.”
Starlink prides itself on its ability to deliver ultra-fast broadband to the world’s most challenging environments, with receiver equipment on the ground connected to thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit.
The idea is that more satellites means lower latency and more reliable service than other broadband companies that traditionally use single satellites orbiting the Earth.
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social media
As in previous disasters, social media played a key role in coordinating aid, locating those in need and sharing eyewitness accounts of the hardest-hit areas.
A tweet by someone saying they were trapped under the rubble of their Antakya city home and needed assistance has been retweeted more than 43,700 times and viewed by 5.3 million people.
Government agencies have been updating their official accounts, while the Turkish Red Cross has been sharing ways people can help — including donating.