A policy report from global development institutions such as the World Bank clearly highlights that:
“Investing in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) is not a luxury cost,
but a fundamental foundation of sustainable economic and social development.”
Today the world is facing wildfires, floods, severe storms, factory fires, failures of critical infrastructure,
and emergencies in major cities. The key question for countries, cities, and the private sector is:
Will we “wait for disasters to happen and then repair the damage”
or “invest in managing risk in advance so that losses are minimized”?
This article takes you Back to Basics and explains clearly
why investment in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) is crucial for global development,
and how Canal One views the role of AI technology and the ASAP Platform in this bigger picture.
What is Disaster Risk Management?
Disaster Risk Management (DRM) is not just about
“rescuing people after a flood or fire.”
It is a full risk-management cycle that runs from upstream to downstream:
1) Risk Assessment
Understanding clearly where and what the risks are:
- Floods, landslides, wildfires
- Factory fires, chemical spills
- Urban emergencies such as smoke in high-rise buildings, crowd density and crowd crush
- Environmental hazards such as PM2.5, extreme heat, and water levels in canals and waterways
2) Risk Reduction
Designing measures in both physical and systemic dimensions:
- Dams, weirs, drainage systems
- Fire and chemical protection systems
- Industrial safety standards / safety SOPs / evacuation plans
3) Preparedness
- Early warning systems
- Joint drills between agencies and communities
- Clear communication so people know what to do when an incident occurs
4) Response
- Command and operation centers (Operation Center / IOC)
- Real-time alerting systems
- Evacuation and structured multi-agency coordination
5) Recovery
- Repairing affected areas and infrastructure
- Reviving the economy and social systems so they can function again
- Capturing lessons learned and improving systems so the same incident does not recur
The core of DRM is the shift from
“waiting for disasters and then responding” → to → “seeing risks early and reducing damage as much as possible”.
Why is investment in Disaster Risk Management critical for global development?
1. Reducing long-term economic loss
A single major disaster can cause:
- Factories to shut down for weeks or months
- Supply chains to stall and deliveries to be delayed
- Cities to close roads or entire business districts
- Tourism and service businesses to lose massive amounts of revenue
Investment in DRM—for example:
- Real-time flood warning and water-level monitoring systems
- Fire and smoke monitoring in factories and large buildings
- Safety and risk management systems for plants and industrial estates
helps us reduce downtime, lower damage costs, and maintain business continuity.
From an economic standpoint, this is an investment that is far more cost-effective than rebuilding every time after a disaster.
2. Protecting lives and building public confidence
Any model of development that comes at the cost of large-scale loss of life
cannot be called “sustainable development”.
Examples include:
- Flood early-warning before water overtops levees
- Smoke and fire detection in warehouses, factories, and malls
- Fall and accident alerts inside factories or public spaces
All of these help workers and communities feel safer.
That sense of safety translates into:
- Workers who trust their workplace
- Investors who trust the safety standards
- A city and a country that are perceived as safe, livable, and investable
3. Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
DRM is directly linked to several Sustainable Development Goals, such as:
- SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- SDG 9: Resilient infrastructure
- SDG 13: Climate action
As the world faces more global warming and climate volatility,
we urgently need systems that can predict, provide early warning, and actually reduce the impact of natural hazards.
4. Building resilience for countries, cities, and organizations
Resilience does not mean “never falling”.
It means “when we fall, we can get back up quickly, with minimal loss.”
Good DRM helps:
- Flood-hit cities return to normal life faster
- Factories resume production in a shorter time
- Power, water, and public transport systems come back online quickly
This is system-level resilience, and it is something countries around the world are seriously investing in.
Technology and the new role of Disaster Risk Management
We are moving from an era that relied almost solely on
“human eyes and human experience”
to one that leverages AI + IoT + Edge Computing so we can:
“See earlier, think faster, and act automatically.”
Key technologies include:
AI Video Analytics
Detecting smoke and fire, intrusions, falls, missing PPE, crowd density, and more.
IoT Sensors
Measuring water levels, air quality (PM2.5), temperature, gases, and chemicals.
Edge AI
Processing data on-site in real time, reducing dependence on the cloud—
ideal for locations with unstable connectivity.
Unified Security System
Integrating data from cameras, sensors, building systems, radios, and IT systems
into a single screen.
All of these principles are what Canal One builds into ASAP (All Smart AI Platform).
ASAP Platform: From “separate camera screens” to an “intelligent disaster-risk platform”
1. Unified Security & Environment: One picture for decision-making
ASAP connects:
- CCTV
- Water, air, temperature, and gas sensors (IoT)
- Speakers/sirens and PA systems
- Radios, mobile apps, and LINE OA
- Drones and bodycams
- Building systems (BMS/HVAC)
into one platform, so:
- Executives
- Command centers
- Frontline teams
all see the same situation and can make decisions together quickly.
2. From “alerts only” to “alerts + SOP-driven action”
ASAP doesn’t just pop up an alert on a screen. It can:
- Link events directly to automatic SOPs
- Control field devices, such as:
- Activating sirens
- Automatically blocking areas or closing doors
- Adjusting building systems, e.g., shutting outside air, increasing filtration
- Sending warning messages via PA systems, digital signage, and apps
And when upgraded to ASAP+, it can:
- Automatically dispatch drones to survey high-risk zones, confirm incidents,
and send visual data back to the command center in real time.
3. Edge-first + Green Tech: Safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly
ASAP is designed with an Edge-first + Green Tech approach:
- Processing happens close to the incident, reducing cloud latency
- Systems continue operating even when internet connectivity is unstable
- Only key data and metadata are sent to the cloud, saving bandwidth and cost
- Energy-efficient architecture and devices reduce the carbon footprint of monitoring systems
DRM for factories, cities, and critical infrastructure
Factories / Industrial estates
- Detect PPE violations, risky behavior, falls, smoke and fire, and intrusions
- Monitor warehouses, engine rooms, and high-risk fire zones
- Link to automatic SOPs: zone isolation, maintenance dispatch, supervisor calls
- View data and receive alerts via mobile, tablets, and radios On the Go
Cities / Municipalities
- Measure PM2.5, water levels, and temperature at multiple points → build risk heatmaps
- Set alert thresholds → close or reroute roads, and send targeted community alerts
- Integrate PA systems, digital signage, and smart city apps into one platform
Critical infrastructure
- Upgrade to a Smart Integrated Operation Center (IOC)
- Consolidate all signals from power plants, substations, and public transport systems
- Use real-time data to reduce the risk of service disruptions
Investing in DRM today = investing in a future you don’t have to gamble on
Revisiting the original question:
Between “waiting for disasters and then fixing the damage”
and “investing ahead of time to reduce loss”,
which is truly more valuable—for the world and for your business?
Investing in Disaster Risk Management is investing in:
- Business continuity
- Trust from employees, customers, and investors
- Long-term sustainability for cities and society
This is why Canal One has developed the ASAP Platform to be more than just a
“CCTV + AI system”.
It is a Smart Safety & Resilience Infrastructure that helps Thailand—and the world—
see earlier, warn earlier, and act earlier,
with transparency, strong standards, and environmental responsibility.
If you are looking for solutions in Disaster Risk Management, Unified Security Systems, and Green Tech
for your factory, city, or critical infrastructure,
the Canal One team is ready to help design a 30–60–90 day roadmap—
starting from small high-risk zones and scaling into a full intelligent system
that is both measurable and truly worth the investment.
