Given the current immigration situation between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the devastation caused by the 7.0 magnitude quake that hit Haiti in 2010, the effects of which are still omnipresent in the small country. The lives of approximately three million people – at a low estimate – were forever altered. The country continues to struggle in supporting its residents, prompting the move to the Dominican Republic. One of the biggest challenges residents still face is a lack of a stable supply of electricity. In fact, only 20 percent of the country’s population has access to electricity, due to its poor state resulting from the 2010 quake. But the problems with Haiti’s infrastructure, along with the search for solutions to provide its residents with a stable supply of electricity, began long before 2010.

Prior to the natural disaster, only 25 percent of Haitians had access to electricity services. Most were illegally connected to the power grid, a common situation in countries that suffer from extreme poverty. And even those with access still lacked a stable supply of electricity. So in an effort to rebuild a better Haiti, the country has been looking to solutions like expanding renewables and tapping into solar microgrids. But there are still massive strides to be taken in order to expand electricity distribution throughout the country.

Strides toward a stronger, more resilient Haiti
Given Haiti’s frail infrastructure, the tasks for fixing its debilitating electricity and energy issues have not been easy. Immediately following the earthquake, food shortages and a cholera outbreak consumed most of the limited resources that were available. That said, even with the demands placed on the aid that was provided to Haiti, there has been improvement thanks to initiatives like the Pilot Project for the Sustainable Electricity Distribution (PPSELD) program. USAID funded this program to expand reliable electricity from the Caracol Industrial Park Power Plant to surrounding communities. This project alone has made it possible for more than 8,600 households, businesses, and government institutions in Caracol, Trou du Nord, Terrier Rouge, and Limonade to be connected to the power grid!

And while this is inspiring, these types of post-disaster projects are just one part of the solution. Organizations like the World Bank are working towards solutions that address the existing problems, so when a natural disaster does occur, those problems are not exacerbated. For example, the World Bank found that the cost of disasters in developing countries has reached around $1.2 trillion since 1980 – amounting to one third of all official development aid.

This begs the question – shouldn’t we be investing in disaster risk management programs that can help developing regions be more prepared for natural hazards?

One way to do so is by leveraging new technologies, especially those that are cloud-based. In fact, many relief agencies are already using cloud-based technologies, such as OneResponse, to coordinate relief during the aftermath of the earthquake. This is a promising approach. What about using the cloud to build a stronger, more resilient Haiti?

Using cloud technologies and Big Data to strengthen Haiti’s infrastructure
Now is an ideal time for Haiti to revamp existing programs and modernize its infrastructure. And, some of the most promising solutions are those made possible by the cloud. The cloud is especially feasible for developing regions like Haiti, because of recent developments in the delivery of sophisticated SaaS platforms. These solutions are more affordable and simple to integrate. By using Hadoop technology, a free, Java-based programming framework that supports the processing of large data sets in a distributed computing environment, data analysis tasks can be spread over many separate processors to deliver a tool that is quick and easy to use.

Cloud data storage can be increased to suit the volume of data and the expected lifetime of the data, providing easy standardization and scalability.

The cloud also enables advanced data visualization to be delivered, supporting a deeper understanding of the data relationships from system to system within an electric utility.

These system visualization techniques are especially useful in rural areas that lack traditional infrastructure identification characteristics. And with many utilities in developing areas lacking access to experienced engineers, it is important to have solutions that can be understood by under-skilled resources. Modern software designs make this possible. They provide a clean, easy-to-understand presentation of complex data sets and relationships that can be used by occasional users, a critical strategy for developing regions due to manpower limitations.

For example, in the case of the PPSELD mentioned above, using cloud-based technologies could enhance the programs already in place. Using a program that collected data analytics on those consuming electricity, one could track peak energy times, and conserve energy output when it’s not needed – saving both the power plant and its users money. Further, by harnessing the data in real-time, one could pinpoint where power appears most vulnerable, allowing the utility to spend less time and resources – of which are likely manual and extremely limited – looking for the area that needs to be corrected.

In the case of the Haiti Energie and Florida International University (FIU) partnership, having data analytics would allow them to strengthen their ability to supply affordable solar power and access to electricity in Haiti. Having the tools to correctly analyze and use energy usage data will make it possible to create a broader functioning grid that can expedite the entire country’s development and success.

Setting a solid foundation for the future of Haiti and other developing countries
Haiti is still recovering, a process which won’t complete overnight – with or without cloud-based technologies. But as it continues to put one foot in front of the other, the country should make sure its infrastructure incorporates cloud computing technologies. The cloud will be critical in modernizing Haiti’s systems so that there is a solid foundation for a future that not only has stable energy, but is resilient in the event of future disasters.
 

About the Author

Scott Foster is CEO of Delta Energy & Communications and has over 29 years of experience in the energy sector.