The Hindu Business Line : Fuzzy logic method for marine disaster mitigation plan mooted

Mr P. Tamilvanan, Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust (right), releasing the conference proceedings at the fourth Indian National Conference on Harbour Ocean Engineering at Surathkal in Mangalore on Wednesday. Prof Sandeep Sancheti (left), Director of National Institute of Technology Karnataka, and Prof Tad. S. Murthy from University of Ottawa, Canada, are seen. —

Our Bureau

Mangalore, Dec. 12 Fuzzy logic can provide some guidance in making objective decisions for marine disaster mitigation plan, according to Prof Tad S. Murthy from University of Ottawa, Canada.

Delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of the fourth Indian National Conference on Harbour and Ocean Engineering – jointly organised by the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) and New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) – at Surathkal in Mangalore on Wednesday, he said often decisions in natural marine disaster mitigation are made under great uncertainty.

In the short term during the event itself, many decisions have to be made on possible evacuation of people and animals, based on insufficient and uncertain information about the severity, geographical extent and duration of the event.

In the long-term phase of rehabilitation and reconstruction also, decisions have to be made based upon inadequate and imprecise information on return periods and maximum possible severity of future occurrences.

“This is where fuzzy mathematics can provide some guidance. After a major natural disaster; the standard procedure is to conduct field surveys, to gather as much information as possible on the scientific aspects,” he said.

For practical convenience, it is often tempting to conduct the surveys at regular intervals in space and time. Some times, this can lead to serious aliasing problems and the gathered data may not prove to be useful or reliable.

He suggested that steps be taken to avoid aliasing in both space as well as time domains, during post-event field surveys. In such a situation, fuzzy logic can provide some guidance in making objective decisions, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr P. Tamilvanan, Chairman of NMPT, said that India is a maritime nation. The nation owes its very existence, its development, and much of its prosperity to the oceans.

The ocean water is rich in nutrients, and teeming with life in miraculous variety and complexity. Oceans also are full of metals, minerals, and chemicals and an abundance of fossil fuels, he added.

Prof Sandeep Sancheti, Director of NITK, presided over the inaugural function.

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