NH0.1 | Responsible AI for natural hazards assessment and management
Responsible AI for natural hazards assessment and management
Convener: Kasra Rafiezadeh Shahi | Co-conveners: Maria Vittoria GargiuloECSECS, Heidi Kreibich

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way natural hazards are assessed and managed, providing innovative tools for early warning systems, risk assessments, and response strategies. AI-based solutions accelerate and semi-automate the processing and interpretation of (big) data for the benefit of society and the environment. However, these advancements bring ethical challenges, including the need to ensure transparency, equity, and sensitivity to local contexts and vulnerable populations.
By addressing biases, safeguarding data privacy, and upholding principles of fairness, responsible AI strengthens resilience, reduces vulnerabilities, and supports sustainable recovery efforts. For the community engaged in natural hazard research and management, AI offers transformative yet ethically complex capabilities. Given the significant impact of AI-driven decisions on people's lives, particularly in vulnerable settings, fostering dialogue on responsible and ethical AI practices is critical. The aim is to ensure that AI technologies not only enhance efficiency but also align with fundamental human values, advancing equitable and sustainable solutions. In this session, we will discuss the challenges and opportunities of responsible AI for natural hazards assessment and management from different perspectives. The session consists of a panel discussion.
Panellists are:
• Jean Baptist Bove, Italian Red Cross, Italy
• Gabriella Duca, Fondazione ISSNOVA Institute for Sustainable Society and Innovation, Naples, Italy
• Juha-Pekka Jäpölä, Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), Brussels, Belgium
• Bruce Malamud, Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, Durham University, Durham, UK
• Yao Sun, German Aerospace Center, Photogrammetry and Image Analysis, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany