SEP. 29 SPECIAL GROUP ASSIGNMENT

This assignment looks into the dynamics of the occurrence of an epidemic. In line with this, research on the following:

1. What is an epidemic? What are the manifestations of an epidemic? What are the primary considerations when there is an epidemic?

2. As a group, watch the movie "Contagion". Based on your research (and answers in number 1), do you agree on how the Contagion movie exhibited the propagation of the epidemic ? Why or why not?

3. What were the conflicts exhibited by the Contagion movie in terms of uncovering the cause of the epidemic and the creation of the vaccine for the disease? Do you think this conflicts may really happen? Why or why not?

4. Read the 8th chapter in the book Widsom of the Crowds by James Surowiecki. The chapter is on Science: Collaboration, Competition and Reputation. The chapter actually dealt on the SARS case.

Compare and contrast the method of (a) reporting the epidemic, (b) finding the cause of disease-- as presented in the chapter in the book and the Contagion movie.

5. How do you think information technology has made an impact to the discovery of the cause of SARS? How about in the Contagion movie, how does information technology helped?

Please submit a printed assignment with a cover page indicating the names of the members and the section. Thank you.

Syllabus on Emergency Preparedness in Communities

Syllabus on Emergency Preparedness in Communities


Course Code : EMER-IT
Course Title : Emergency Preparedness in Communities 2nd term SY 2011-2012

Credit Units : 3
Pre-requisite : Major IS core courses
Co-requisite : None
Department : Information Technology
Course Adviser : Ms. Mavic Pineda – mavic.pineda@delasalle.ph
Twitter : queenandroid, #sos101


The course is intended to introduce emergency preparedness to IT, IS and CS students in the light that technology can support hazard mitigation, prevention and preparedness. The course also scrutinizes the behavior, the self-organizing characteristics of swarms and how they respond to changes in their environment. Different swarm models will be considered to provide working models on hazard and emergency preparedness of communities.

The main output of the course is two-fold. The first is a case analysis of a past, local hazard incident that merited emergencies. The case analysis includes a critique of the strengths, weaknesses and other threats of the incident. The analysis in the first output is fed to the second output which is a Flash simulation program. The simulation exhibits the predicted behaviors by individuals as experienced in the case; and the predicted behaviors mitigating disasters . Swarms with intelligence will be used as human representations in the programs.

Course Outline

Week 1
1. Course overview, expectations and requirements
Groupings

Week 2
2. Introduction to disasters
What are hazards, threats and disasters
Hazard mitigation
Disaster preparedness
Rescue, response and rehabilitation
Importance of an evacuation plan
Assignment: An evacuation plan

Weeks 3-5
3. Common hazards in the country
Readings on Climate Change and Global Warming
Cyclones/typhoons*
Flooding and landslides*
Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes*
Demolitions and riots*
Dengue epidemic and viral flu*
Fire and fire in urban poor areas*
*Field trip to the bee farm & zoo takes place on the 5th week.

Weeks 6-7
Case analysis presentations

Week 8
Learning from the Intelligence of the Swarm
Definition and examples of swarms
Analyzing characteristics & behavior of swarms

Week 9
Experiment on swarm/human behavior
Online discussion - Extreme behaviors of swarms

Weeks 10-11
Ants*
Bees*
Fish and birds*
Grasshoppers, cicadas and locusts*
Butterflies and dragonflies*
Other animalia

Weeks 12-14
Final Project presentation: Swarm simulation
Learnings from the Swarm

*group reporting topics


Course requirements:
1. Intelligent reporting - 15%
2. Case analysis - 25%
The case analysis is a midterm requirement and will be used as the main context in the simulation program.
3. Swarm simulation program - 25%
The simulation program will be developed using Flash. This is the Final requirement.
4. Attendance to the seminars - 10%
5. Class activities, class EM blog & online discussion - 15%
Each group will have a page in the EM blog and everyone is enjoined to contribute.
6. Field trip to the zoo & bee farm– 10%


List of Seminars and Alternative* Classes
Flash seminar – 2 Saturdays
Open Lecture of Prof. David Merrick on Emergency Management*
Online discussion*
Field trip to the zoo & bee farm – bee farm, butterfly farm, crocodile & fish farm*


References
Goldstein, N. (2010). Global Warming. USA: Checkmark Books. (QC981.8 G56 G64 2010)
Lindell, M. D., Prater, C., & Perry, R. W. (2007). Introduction to Emergency Management. USA: Wiley. (HV 551.2 L56 2007)
Miller, P. (2010). The Smart Swarm. New York: Penguin Group.
Perry, R. W., & Quarantelli, E. (Eds.). (2005). What is a Disaster? USA: International Research Committee on Disasters. (HV 553 W46 2005)
Schipper, E. L., & Burton, I. (Eds.). (2009). Adaptation to Climate Change. USA: Earthscan. (QC 981.8 C5 E24 2009)

New Course on Emergency Management

This second trimester of SY 2011-2012, I am glad to introduce a new elective course in the IT Department of De La Salle University. This term I have designed the course Emergency Preparedness in Communities. It explores the different types of hazards, emergencies and disasters. To support the mitigation and preparedness skills of students and other stakeholders in our society, the course will study various swarm behavior, learn from them and simulate such behavior through the creation of small but useful simulation programs.

Welcome to the EMER-IT course! Let's work and learn together this term. See the postings every now and then for assignments and upcoming activities.

Cheers! :)