Complexity and multi-faceted hazards are of growing interest, as addressing them allows a significant step forward in building response and societal resilience to disasters.

This session deals with the use of disaster information systems, with a focus on the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System's (GDACS) role and enhancements. Through a few case studies, it will display the current use of GDACS by some relevant users, how they apply GDACS in their everyday work. From there a discussion will stem about the pros/cons of the system, from a user point of view, and about the current gaps that GDACS should address.

The session will end with an open question and answers slot, a wrap up and an assisted poster session, detailing those interested in the latest developments in the three components of GDACS.

Key discussion themes:

• The pros and cons of wide-ranging and global tools for disaster monitoring, through the users’ lens, and current gaps to be addressed in GDACS and other similar tools.
• The current trends in multi-hazard and early-warning information systems, and GDACS role within them. A brief overview will mention the emerging features and services offered by GDACS, including AI, anticipatory analysis, and more.
• The new and incoming updates in GDACS, to enhance anticipatory capability and user experience.

Session agenda:

Opening (10 minutes):

• GDACS Chair, Marzia Santini (Directorate-General Joint Research Centre of the European Commission - DG JRC)
• GDACS Secretariat, Thomas Peter (Emergency Response Section - ERS, Response Support Branch - RSB, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – UN OCHA)

Highlights from the GDACS partners (5 minutes each):

• Anna Samsel, Head of “Contingency Planning, Analysis and Situational Awareness” Unit of Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid of the European Commission (DG ECHO)
• Thomas Peter, Emergency Response Section (ERS), Response Support Branch (RSB), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
• Samir Belabbes, Associate Programme Officer at United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR/UNOSAT)

Case studies by GDACS users, perspectives and insights into the use of GDACS (10 minutes each):

• Michael Manalili – GIS specialist and innovation lead -United Nations World Food Program (WFP)
• Jaime Abad Perez – Scientific analyst - European Commission, Directorate General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO),Contingency Planning, analysis and situational awareness – Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)
• Punya Prasad Sapkota - Regional Information Management Officer - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA - Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok).
• Eric Allen- Geospatial Developer - Needs and Response Analysis Section (NARAS), Assessment, Planning and Monitoring Branch (APMB) - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA – Geneva).

Open floor to questions and answers and session wrap-up (15 minutes).

Poster session with developments occurred in the last year, and what to expect next, for each of the GDACS components (10 minutes).

Expected outcomes:

• Communicate the renewed value of GDACS information system for users' needs across all the components, and the roadmap ahead for the portal.
• Show the latest developments and innovations of hazard and disaster content within GDACS.
• Collect actionable information on user expectations about GDACS and similar tools.