Current Projects for IABS3
Providing Access to Information Sharing Technologies For Disadvantaged Communities and Populations (PARET)
This project, sponsored by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Community and Regional Resilience Initiative (CARRI), supports research into the factors that affect the ability of communities and regions to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the impact of a natural or man-made catastrophe. A community and population that are postured for this sort of event will be more resilient to its short and long-term effects than similar localities that have not improved their readiness.
A number of emerging technologies, such as information technology, are potentially beneficial to the enhancement of community and regional resilience. However, access to and familiarity with these technologies among economically disadvantaged or otherwise vulnerable populations is uneven. If such access and familiarity can be raised, disadvantaged populations could benefit significantly during preparation for, response to, and recovery from such catastrophic events.
The Institute for Advanced Biometrics and Social Systems Studies (IABS3) coordinates access to an array of specialized experience and research expertise relevant to this area of study, from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and its partner universities as well as the member universities of Oak Ridge Associated Universities. These include Minority Serving Institutions with unique expertise in the study of disadvantaged populations.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this project is to provide recommended methodologies for facilitating the access of vulnerable populations to resilience-enhancing technologies. Key in accomplishing this objective is answering the following research questions:
- What are the underlying requirements (information, communication, assistance, facilitation, etc.) necessary to enhance the resilience of socioeconomically disadvantaged populations?
- What specific technologies have demonstrated the potential to meet these needs and enhance the ability of a local population to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the effects of a natural or man-made catastrophe?
- What are the barriers to access to these technologies for economically disadvantaged populations, which prevent them from being used to increase community and regional resilience?
- How can barriers to access to such technologies be overcome? What material programs could facilitate physical access, and what training/education programs could facilitate familiarity with use of the technologies for this purpose?
The Institute’s Program Managers are currently building the research team for this project.
