Innovation in disaster mitigation technologies

In recent years geologically related hazards or disasters are happening more frequently and are more severe than before. We are thus in urgent need to enhance our disaster mitigation and rehabilitation capabilities by developing more innovative solutions. In this paper, the areas in which innovation may play a role are identified. A few examples are given to illustrate how innovative ideas can be adopted to develop new methods or improve the existing technologies to deal with natural disasters. These include (1) the use of geotextile mats to construct dikes; (2) the use of biogas technology to reduce liquefaction potential of sand; (3) the use of bioclogging technology to reduce riverbank or coastal erosion or make temporary water ponds on a beach or in the desert; (4) the use of quick setting materials, and (5) the use of quick construction technologies.