SAP and UNESCO Partner to Launch AI-Assisted Disaster Risk Management System in Solomon Islands – SAP News Center

UNESCO Adopts Advanced Disaster Management System in Solomon Islands to Advance Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has announced the selection of the EDiSON advanced disaster risk management system for implementation in the Solomon Islands. This initiative, a collaboration between SAP and the Oita University venture INSPIRATION PLUS, represents a significant technological deployment aimed at bolstering resilience and directly contributing to several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

System Overview and Technological Framework

EDiSON (Emergency Disaster information System for Oita Prefecture and its Neighbors) is an intelligent enterprise solution operating on the SAP Business Technology Platform. The system is designed to mitigate the impact of natural disasters, such as cyclones and floods, which are intensifying due to climate change.

• Data Integration: The system integrates diverse data sets, including real-time meteorological information, historical disaster records, and data from governmental and private sector sources.
• Predictive Analytics: Utilizing SAP Business AI and machine learning, EDiSON generates predictive insights to forecast potential terrain damage and identify at-risk areas.
• Operational Support: It provides authorities with real-time visibility to support critical decision-making, including the dispatch of emergency services and the issuance of timely evacuation advisories.

Direct Contributions to the Sustainable Development Agenda

The EDiSON project in the Solomon Islands is a practical application of technology to address global challenges, with a strong alignment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The project is a direct response to the objectives of SDG 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

1. Strengthening Resilience (Target 13.1): By providing an advanced early warning system, EDiSON strengthens the resilience and adaptive capacity of the Solomon Islands, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
2. Climate Adaptation: The initiative serves as a critical tool for climate adaptation, enabling the nation to better prepare for and respond to the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The core function of EDiSON is to make human settlements safer and more resilient, directly supporting the aims of SDG 11.

1. Reducing Disaster Impact (Target 11.5): The system is designed to significantly reduce deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from disasters by improving response times and enabling proactive mitigation efforts, with a focus on protecting vulnerable communities.
2. Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction (Target 11.b): This project embodies the implementation of a holistic, data-driven model for disaster risk reduction at the national level.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The deployment of EDiSON showcases the role of innovation and technology in building resilient infrastructure.

• Resilient Infrastructure (Target 9.1): The system helps protect critical infrastructure by providing predictive insights that allow for preventative measures and more effective emergency response, thereby enhancing overall national resilience.
• Accessible Technology (Target 9.a): EDiSON’s modular and scalable design makes sophisticated disaster management technology accessible to developing nations without requiring extensive budgets or technical expertise, facilitating sustainable infrastructure development.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

This initiative is a prime example of a multi-stakeholder partnership leveraging combined expertise to achieve sustainable development.

• Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration (Target 17.17): The project unites a UN agency (UNESCO), a global technology corporation (SAP), and an academic research venture (INSPIRATION PLUS) to share knowledge, technology, and resources for the benefit of a vulnerable nation.

Project Implementation and Scalability

Scheduled to be operational in 2026 as part of UNESCO’s Disaster Prevention Strengthening Program, the Solomon Islands initiative is envisioned as a scalable blueprint. The selection of EDiSON was based on its proven success in Japan, where it overcame challenges of fragmented data and limited analytical capacity. Its adaptability makes it a viable model for other Small Island Developing States facing similar climate-induced threats, demonstrating how technology can democratize disaster resilience and support long-term sustainable development.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article focuses on the development and implementation of an advanced technological system (EDiSON) that runs on SAP Business Technology Platform and uses AI and machine learning. This represents an investment in innovation and resilient infrastructure to solve a critical challenge.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The primary goal of the EDiSON system is to make communities, specifically in the Solomon Islands, safer and more resilient to natural disasters like cyclones and floods. It aims to protect lives and infrastructure by improving disaster response and issuing timely evacuation orders.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly links the need for this system to “the increasing severity of natural disasters driven by climate change.” The project is a direct effort to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, particularly for vulnerable small island developing states.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative is a multi-stakeholder partnership involving UNESCO (a UN agency), SAP (a private sector technology company), and INSPIRATION PLUS from Oita University (academia). This collaboration to transfer technology and expertise to a developing nation exemplifies the spirit of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.5: “By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses…caused by disasters…with a focus on protecting…people in vulnerable situations.” The article directly addresses this by describing how EDiSON empowers authorities to “protect lives and infrastructure,” “mitigating damage,” and support “decision-making in issuing evacuation advisories.”
   • Target 11.b: “…implement…holistic disaster risk management at all levels.” The article describes the project as establishing a “data-driven model for disaster preparedness and responses” and a “transformative solution to enhance national preparedness and response capabilities,” which aligns with implementing holistic disaster risk management.
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The article states the project aims to build “a foundation for long-term resilience” and democratize “disaster resilience,” especially for small island nations facing climate-driven disasters.
3. Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure):
   • Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure…” The EDiSON system itself is a form of technological infrastructure designed to make the Solomon Islands’ communities and physical infrastructure more resilient to disasters.
   • Target 9.5: “Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries…encouraging innovation…” The article highlights the transfer of “cutting-edge technology,” “AI,” and a “proven” system from Japan to the Solomon Islands, a developing nation, to upgrade its disaster management capabilities.
4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.16: “Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology…” The collaboration between UNESCO, SAP, and Oita University to bring the EDiSON system to the Solomon Islands is a direct example of this partnership in action, sharing technology and expertise.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Faster Response Times: The article states that the system’s predictions offer authorities a “vital tool for delivering faster response times.” This is a direct, measurable indicator of improved disaster management efficiency.
• Improved Early Warning Capabilities: A key outcome mentioned is “improving early warning capabilities.” The effectiveness and timeliness of evacuation advisories issued based on the system’s data can be measured.
• Enhanced National Preparedness and Response Capabilities: The article mentions EDiSON will “enhance national preparedness and response capabilities.” Progress can be measured by the successful integration and operational use of the system by national authorities by its 2026 launch.
• Scalability and Adoption by Other Nations: The initiative is “envisioned as a blueprint for other small island developing states.” The adoption or adaptation of this model by other similar nations would be a key indicator of its success and scalability.
• Integration of Diverse Data: The system’s ability to “integrate diverse types of information, including real-time, visual meteorological data and historical data records” from “government, municipal and private sector sources” is an indicator of its technical implementation and success.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.sap.com