Quantum computing is attacking the 21st century ......
Prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Most people may not immediately recognize the five mission areas of emergency management, but the frequency of natural disasters means that there are more opportunities for the average person to become personally involved in the emergency management continuum. According to a report by Statistica, natural disasters alone have caused a staggering $232 billion in global losses over the past 19 years.
Emergency management teams currently employ technologies such as drones, sensors, robotics, and cloud tools to improve preparedness and response. But these technologies don't quite have the two key attributes needed in all phases of emergency management: speed and the ability to account for infinite variables.
-- Cutting-edge technologies such as quantum computing are uniquely capable of dealing with these variables.
Because quantum can perform calculations on countless combinations simultaneously, it can generate solutions that help save lives, property, and the environment much faster than conventional computers. Peer-reviewed research published in Nature, one of the most highly regarded scientific journals in the field, is increasingly demonstrating the superior performance of quantum technology over classical computers and its application to large-scale optimization problems.
According to a study by KPMG Canada, nearly 60% of Canadian organizations expect quantum computers to become mainstream by the end of this decade. In addition, both quantum annealing and quantum hybridization (quantum plus classical computing applications) are now available through cloud computing, and they can work in concert with other technologies such as high-performance computing and artificial intelligence/mobile computing.
A number of organizations are calling on the U.S. government to identify problems that quantum computing can solve by building near-term applications. For example, the Information Technology and Innovation Forum (ITIF) authored a report and noted that, as the semiconductor industry has already seen, the current enthusiasm for quantum computing could lead to a virtuous cycle of progress, but only if near-term applications of the quantum computing technologies being developed are successful.
Because quantum computers are highly specialized, difficult to maintain and expensive to develop, most users will likely access these systems through cloud-based solutions. In fact, the private sector is already providing cloud-based access to quantum computing, such as Amazon Braket and Microsoft Azure Quantum, allowing users to learn, build, and deploy solutions using the latest quantum computing hardware.
More relevant government policies are needed to better position quantum technology.
A virtuous cycle of promoting new technologies
The Hudson Institute's Institute for Quantum Algorithms also published the report Advancing Quantum Dominance: Hybrid Quantum Systems and the Future of U.S. High-Tech Leadership. and noted that the real path to a quantum future is the combination of quantum and classical digital technologies, especially in computing, which will strongly accelerate access to the potential benefits of quantum information science.
Building these applications will be able to demonstrate how quantum can address challenges in the public sector: for example, those related to emergency response.
In planning, quantum technologies can facilitate cutting-edge simulations and mission-critical exercises. The combination of multiple simulations and situational awareness intelligence can help emergency management professionals develop more comprehensive response plans. Applied quantum computing can be enriched by quantum-enhanced artificial intelligence for mission-scale simulations that produce real-time or near real-time analysis for optimal preparedness.
For example, a company under Tohoku University in Japan has developed a quantum hybrid application to facilitate planning related to tsunami response. The quantum application allows for optimized analysis of potential tsunami impact areas, generating real-time data that can be used to manage road congestion and evacuation routes. This is critical during emergency response to improve resource mobilization and response times. According to an article in IndustryWired, "Researchers and scientists are already developing strategies to help predict weather conditions and make informed decisions with the help of quantum computing."
Additionally, the Australian Army has explored how quantum hybrid applications can be used to improve "last mile resupply" in emergencies, including determining the best routes for troop resupply.
In the future, the same technology could be applied to plan for and respond to hurricanes, floods and wildfires, identify evacuation routes, streamline logistics for infrastructure repairs, and prepare for mass medical rescues.
As any first responder knows, integrated and coordinated logistics management is a vital and difficult task. The nature of natural disasters complicates this network of operations: infrastructure that can be used or mobilized in response and recovery efforts is often destroyed or damaged in a disaster. The rapidly changing demands of the situation further complicate the prioritization and execution of response strategies. Quantum applications can analyze millions of possible variables under rapidly changing conditions to identify solutions that improve the deployment of rescue operations, weather modeling, access to medical access, and the clearing of critical transportation routes.
Here's a good example: defense experts are exploring the use of quantum hybrid technology as a homeland security tool, with impressive results. A quantum application developed for missile defense examined 67 million different scenarios and gave an answer in about 13 seconds.
In addition, the House of Representatives recently included a near-term pilot program for quantum applications in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024.
Globally, the private sector has begun to develop quantum hybrid applications to aid in logistics management, effectively providing application guidelines for first responder routing.
For example, DENSO Corporation (DENSO) found that a quantum hybrid application for cab services reduced the number of cabs needed for 400 rides from 62 to 43, a 30 percent reduction in vehicle demand. Denso also partnered with Toyota Tsusho Corporation for fleet operations in Thailand and found that quantum-optimized routes reduced mileage and driving time by nearly 10 percent, as well as emissions, providing a solution that was 26 percent better than traditional optimization tools.
The same technology can be applied to ambulances, fire trucks, police cars and hazardous materials vehicles, saving critical minutes in emergency situations.
Quantum computing can also improve the coordination of large-scale healthcare responses, particularly by improving patient and staff scheduling in hospitals by taking into account the location of the healthcare system, system-wide prioritization, medical staff specialization and staff availability.
For example, in Japan, an application helps solve nurse scheduling problems by ensuring that appropriate staff are on call while considering variables such as shift parameters and staffing specialties. Similar scheduling applications can also help physicians, emergency services, law enforcement, and others in the United States.
The long-term effects of natural disasters ripple through resources, critical infrastructure, and local and regional environments. Quantum technologies can model various aspects of recovery, such as assessing the impact of wildfires on air quality and groundwater contamination after infrastructure damage. Applications can even be built to address remediation efforts, such as optimizing repairs to utility and telephone grids.
Beyond the initial, rapidly identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks to inform protection activities, responses, and investments is also possible with today's quantum technologies.
Policymakers are focusing on how quantum and quantum hybrid technologies can support critical aspects of emergency management. Even in June of this year, Congressman Young Kim (R-California) introduced the Wildfire Technology Demonstration, Evaluation, Modernization, and Optimization (DEMO) Act, which creates a test bed for emergency response technologies, such as quantum computing, to be used to address wildfires.
Reference links:
[1]https://www.statista.com/statistics/510894/natural-disasters-globally-and-economic-losses/#statisticContainer
[2]https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05867-2
[3]https://itif.org/publications/2021/04/27/why-united-states-needs-support-near-term-quantum-computing-applications/
[4]https://www.hudson.org/innovation/advancing-quantum-advantage-hybrid-quantum-systems-future-american-high-tech-leadership
[5]https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-49172-3
[6]https://foreignaffairs.co.nz/2023/06/22/mil-osi-usa-young-kim-leads-wildfire-tech-demo-act/
