R. Wang¹ , J. Margolis²

¹independent researcher
²N/A

Abstract:

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization’s (CTBTO) International Monitoring System is a unique resource of reliable data that can be utilized to monitor many climate and man-made catastrophes. Our project aims to magnify the impact of this data by exploring new relationships between the CTBTO and social media platforms that include crisis and emergency response programs, which often have a broader and more immediate reach than governments or NGOs in the face of disasters. Specifically, we will first identify the range of incidents that the IMS system is capable of monitoring and exactly how this monitoring can bolster emergency response planning. Subsequently, we will identify accessible and high-impact platforms with which the CTBTO can partner, such as the Twitter Alerts program or Facebook’s emergency safety check. We expect the layering of CTBTO IMS data, social media, and crisis response tools to enhance the efficiency of emergency response and evacuation. Additionally, by collecting first-hand accounts of these catastrophes on social media platforms through the partnership, the CTBTO can paint a more holistic picture of the impact of these events on the ground. In turn, this could enrich ongoing climate change and natural disaster monitoring efforts being conducted across the United Nations.