This open source web-database software is designed to handle the data used by multiple actors working together in disaster reponse.

Written in php/mySQL, this software does not offer too-clever functionality, but instead concentrates on wider issues like deployability, usability, participation of the actors, and its modular structure, which allows it to be tailored for each diaster.

The first module is a WhoWhatWhere database, and subsequent modules are for tracking and recording various aspects of typical disasters, such as donations, camps, volunteers, logistics. Each module offers some simple reports. GIS data is supported throughout.

Started after the the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, it was deployed in four major disasters in 2006, and now at the time of writing is only at version 0.5. The important thing about Sahana is that it is an inclusive project, and that organisations can easily buy in to it at the point of use i.e. the disaster.

It has won several awards and I look forward to seeing Sahana become the industry standard.

The online demo is worth a look.