Professor Peter Anderson is an emergency communications expert whose work has improved emergency planning and response world-wide. He advises emergency responders on protecting populations from fires, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes and other disasters.
As Associate Professor and Director of the Telematics Research Lab at Simon Fraser University, BC’s Provincial Emergency Program relies upon him for unique solutions. During the Okanagan fires of 2003, he supervised the protection of mountaintop telecommunications repeaters and other critical lifeline communications systems needed to support community evacuations and emergency response coordination.
He developed a tsunami-warning toolkit for coastal communities and is researching a public all-hazards warning system. He developed ‘AMECom’, a self-contained, mobile, telecommunications research laboratory for communications support during emergencies. It was deployed on many occasions, including during the Fraser Valley’s Avian Influenza outbreaks and at Whistler during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Professor Anderson played a pivotal role in developing a system to bring medical information to the South Pacific, a communications system in war-torn Sudan, the first Internet systems for U.N. disaster relief operations, and an emergency warning system for Sri Lanka. He designed and implemented an Internet-based system to facilitate civil emergency planning among the 22 countries of NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme. He’s currently working on new rapid-deployable communications systems for use across Northern Canada.
He works with community organizations in BC on disaster risk reduction activities including improving the effectiveness of West Coast tsunami warning in the aftermath of the October 2012 Haida Gwaii Earthquake.
Professor Anderson’s contributions to the application of telematics in spaceflight has resulted in communication solutions and innovative technology for planetary and lunar explorations. His expertise is sought around the world, yet he generously helps search and rescue and other community organizations across BC.
