Khaberni - Architectural and urban design consultant Dr. Murad Al-Kalaldeh stated that the current scene of emergency management, based on traditional operation rooms' screens in the Ministry of Local Administration, is no longer sufficient to tackle the rising complexities of climate risks, emphasizing the necessity of smart interactive map systems as a national urgency that cannot be postponed.
He explained that these maps would empower both the citizen and the decision-maker to directly click on any area to discover its geographic classification, potential risks, levels of danger, and preventive and precautionary measures to be followed, thus enhancing the concept of early warning and establishing a community culture based on proactive awareness rather than delayed reaction.
Al-Kalaldeh indicated that the damage caused by recent weather conditions highlighted executional discrepancies in some infrastructure projects, such as constructing roads in flood paths and relying on narrow-diameter pipe culverts instead of box culverts capable of handling high water flows, which exacerbated losses and transformed natural phenomena into recurring disasters.
He noted that preparation for the implications of climate change should not be seen as an exceptional measure activated in emergencies but should be redefined as a foundational rule governing urban and structural planning from its roots, emphasizing the need to return to spatial planning as an integrative science, which provides analytical tools capable of aligning infrastructure with population growth, environmental shifts, and long-term sustainability requirements.
Al-Kalaldeh pointed out that building a national system capable of withstanding climate change requires integration between technology, legislation, engineering, and planning, enabling the state to shift from crisis management to prevention and anticipation, from dealing with outcomes to addressing root causes, thus ensuring the protection of lives, preservation of resources, enhancement of public spending efficiency, and achieving safe and balanced development.
