Joint Board of GIS
|
Geoinformation for Disaster and Risk Management
Download the report
(redirected to UN-spider.org)
Foreword
IIntroduction National governments, international organizations and
research institutions worldwide have set to work to improve disaster
management in all its phases: mitigation, preparedness, relief and
response, and recovery and reconstruction. Many governments have put the
formation of a hazard-resistant and disastercoping society on their
political agenda as an important factor of sustainable economic
development and better quality of civil life. In this respect, the
awareness of new geospatial technologies and their successful
utilization in disaster management is becoming crucial.
These technologies are emerging very fast. Meteorological and earth
observation satellites, communication satellites and satellite-based
navigation and positioning systems may help to improve prediction and
monitoring of potential hazards, risk mitigation and disaster
management, contributing in turn to reduce losses of life and property.
Global navigation satellites and earth observation satellites have
already demonstrated their flexibility in providing data for a broad
range of applications: weather forecasting, vehicle tracking, disaster
alerting, forest fire and flood monitoring, oil spill detection,
desertification monitoring, and crop and forestry damage assessment.
Monitoring and management of recent natural disasters have greatly
benefited from satellite imagery, such as the Indian Ocean tsunami in
2004, floods (Austria, Romania, Switzerland, and Germany in 2005,
hurricanes (USA in 2005), forest fires (Portugal, France, Greece,
Australia in 2005, 2008), earthquakes (Pakistan in 2005, Indonesia in
2006, Haiti 2010), etc.
The use and exchange of geospatial information in disaster situations
is facilitated, on national and international levels, by initiatives and
programmes on harmonisation of geospatial data and building of spatial
data infrastructures, such as GMES and INSPIRE in Europe, the United
Nations Geographic Information Working Group (UNGIWG), Homeland Security
and Digital Earth. Sensors and in situ data have been increasingly
integrated for early warning and hazard monitoring. Systems maintaining
geospatial information are becoming more elaborate and multi- functional
than ever before. Many of these systems can meet requirements for early
warning and real-time response, and provide suitable models for
elaborated predictions, simulations and visualizations.
However, the knowledge about the full range of the application
potential of geospatial technologies is the domain of specialists in the
geosciences. Therefore, the Ad-Hoc Group on Risk and Disaster Management
was formed in 2008, with Orhan Altan as chairman, within the Joint Board
of Geospatial Information Societies. It is the goal of the Ad-Hoc Group
to create and foster knowledge transfer between international
geo-science bodies working on disaster and risk management with
different technological backgrounds, and to ensure political support for
the utilization and development of geo-technologies in this field.
In fulfilment of its mission the Ad-Hoc Group initiated this
publication in order to highlight geospatial technology which has been
successfully used in recent disasters. It is a major goal of the book to
make disaster managers and political decision-makers aware of the
potential and benefits of using geospatial information in every phase of
disaster and risk management.
The project started in January 2009 with an open call for
contributions describing best practices and experiences. To coordinate
the preparation of the booklet the Ad-Hoc Group appointed a working
committee as follows: Orhan Altan, Piero Boccardo, Sisi Zlatanova (all
ISPRS) and Robert Backhaus (UNOOSA/UN-SPIDER) Committee meetings were
held in Prague, Zurich, Milan, Istanbul, Delft, Turin and Haifa to
discuss the submitted abstracts and papers and to give guidance to the
contributors. Only technology in action was considered. The papers had
to be written for a wide-spread audience, with a minimum of technical
detail. The booklet should demonstrate that geoinformation and satellite
technology is used to manage disasters in all parts of the world and
helped in various responce and recovery operations.
With regard to these goals 16 contributions were selected. The
geographical distribution is shown in the figure below. Disasters in
China, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, the
Philippines, Sudan, and the USA are analyzed in detail. Some of the most
devastating natural disasters such as the South Asia tsunami and the
Haiti Earthquake, as well as humanitarian crisis situations such as the
Sudan refugee camps reveal the international efforts in providing maps
and satellite imagery.
The papers can be subdivided into four thematic groups. The first
group presents technologies, systems, and approaches that are intended
for global early warning, monitoring and support. A second group of
papers addresses the integration of satellite and airborne products for
immediate response and damage detection in large impact disasters in
Haiti, Mexico and Sudan. The third group demonstrates fusion of sensors
networks measurements, imagery and GIS data for monitoring and
simulation of floods, landslides, tunnels and earthquakes. The last
group illustrates the benefit of integration of imagery and GIS data in
post-disaster situations and for risk management.
The booklet starts with a chapter presenting the Global Disaster
Alert and Coordination System (GDACS). It is one of the first and most
used portals which provide alerts and impact estimations after major
natural and environmental disasters. The partnership with scientific and
hazard-monitoring institutions allows collection and communication of
near real-time hazard information, which can be further combined in a
GIS with demographic and socio-economic information. The importance of
GDACS is growing, and the number of its users increasing. The second
chapter is dedicated to the global monitoring and alert service on
floods provided by the non-profit association ITHACA (Information
Technology, Humanitarian Assistance, Cooperation and Action). After a
short introduction outlining the major phases of disaster management,
the authors discuss the data needs for the identification of water
bodies and floods. Several approaches based on medium and low resolution
satellite imagery and radar data are briefly explained and illustrated
for several use cases in Bangladesh. The approaches aim at providing
rapid mapping in the first hours of a flood. The system developed within
ITHACA is operational worldwide. In chapter 3, Oertel et al. focus on
wildfire monitoring by infrared sensors on a satellite constellation.
The authors discuss and evaluate currently available sensors and data
products, highlighting the characteristics of a relatively new (launched
in 2001) satellite equipped with Infra red sensors for quantitative
analysis of high-temperature events such as wildfires and volcanoes.
They advocate further development of this system towards a dedicated
Fire Monitoring Constellation, which would ensure a daily observing
cycle with a spatial resolution of 250m.
Chapter 4 enlarges the thematic scope through the question on what
additional information (spatial and non-spatial) is needed for
successful crisis response in general, besides disaster-specific data.
The author, Shirish Ravan, groups the additional information into the
categories baseline data, utility and infrastructure data, and thematic
data on terrain and natural resources. The informational value of these
data is briefly outlined. Since these data sets are maintained by
different institutions, the author emphasizes the development of Spatial
Data Infrastructures and Web-based mapping services for local
governments as key elements for successful management of crisis
situations. Chapter 5 provides an extended study on the use of a
specific type of airborne products (orthophotos) in the post-Tsunami
reconstruction phase in Aceh, Indonesia. In contrast to the other
chapters this one investigates the demand for such data by different
organisations. Well-illustrated with several diagrams, the study clearly
reveals that the use of spatial data was critical to the successful
completion of the aftermath phase.
Chapter 6, 7, 8 and 9 demonstrate satellite-based technologies
applied in cases of large impact disasters such as earthquake (Haiti,
China) and dust storms (New Mexico), and for monitoring of refugee camps
(Sudan). In the case of Haiti, appropriate maps showing most affected
areas and road accessibility were provided in the first few days after
the earthquake, in support of the provision of humanitarian help by the
World Food Program. Although optical imagery was widely used, it was not
sufficient for obtaining a complete picture of the devastation.
Web-based systems were set up on the spot using open source tools.
Mobile systems equipped with webcams and GPS also appeared to be very
successful.
However many problems related to timely delivery of data,
availability of data and costs have been reported. The study confirms
the importance of Spatial Data Infrastructure, as discussed in Chapter
4.
The authors, Ajmar et al., argue that many developing countries need
access to participatory (community) maps such as Open Street Maps or
Google Map Maker, to enable citizens and experts to quickly exchange
information. In chapter 7, Suju Li et al. present an extensive overview
on the large number of satellite images (n=1257) provided in support of
the earthquake response and relief activities in China in 2008. The
authors note, however, that requests for earth observation data should
be carefully planned to ensure complete coverage of the affected areas
at different time periods. In chapter 8, Morain and Budge discuss a
satellite-based system for dust monitoring, concluding that such systems
might be of great importance for the mitigation of health risks. A very
interesting application of satellite products in humanitarian actions is
presented by Kranz et al. in chapter 9. The authors present an approach
for monitoring the extent and growth of displaced persons camps using
very high resolution satellite images (1m). The mapping products were
delivered two days after receiving the satellite data. The feedback from
the user organizations was very positive.
Chapters 10, 11, 12 and 13 present examples of technologies fusion
(ground sensors, satellite products and GIS) for several medium scale
disasters. Kerle and Neussner present a local flood early warning
system, which consists of rain and river level gauges and a command and
control system for processing the data. The system can alert citizens at
every administrative level and did not miss a single flooding event,
being activated 13 times since 2007. Glabsch et al. report on tests of a
low-cost land slide monitoring system based on a network of point
stations with permanent position control. The system is completely
modular and allows long-term monitoring as it is powered by solar
energy. Data handling and processing is managed by different software
packages and all the measurements are archived in a database management
system. Klaus Chmelina presents the Kronos system, which is dedicated to
tunnel structure monitoring. The Kronos software is being successfully
applied for the metro in Budapest and Thessaloniki. Spinetti et al.
present their system for monitoring Mount Etna, Italy. The system
monitors surface deformation, surface temperature and gas and particles
emissions into the atmosphere. These parameters (obtained from satellite
imagery and radar) are used by decision-makers for better understanding
the situation after an eruption.
Chapters 14, 15 and 16 demonstrate the use of geo-information in a
more societal context, addressing auditing disaster-related aid, and
estimation of population growth in megacities. Bijker et al. (chapter
14) describe their approach based on land cover change detection between
the start and at the end of the audit period. The maps were derived from
satellite images. The study clearly shows that the method is
cost-effective and also served to demonstrate to the local authorities
the importance of geography in policy implementation for disaster areas.
Similar conclusions are also drawn in the last chapter by Nolte et al.,
related to the role of remote sensing and GIS for the sustainable
development of megacities. The authors argue that information on
population density and its spatial distribution is one of the most
crucial requirements for resilient disaster management. These parameters
can successfully be monitored with remote sensing technology and
processed with GIS packages. The last chapter 16 presents a number of
emergency situations, in which GIS was successfully applied for response
or recovery. The authors Cygan et al convincingly illustrate that GIS
aids in establishing complete situational awareness by linking people,
processes and information.
The editors believe that this booklet is a helpful demonstration of
how geoinformation technology can be efficiently integrated into
disaster management, encompassing data collection (remote sensing,
sensor networks, mobile systems), data processing, and production of
maps, which are further integrated, analyzed and visualized in
GIS/Web-GIS. Many more advanced exciting technologies (3D visualization
and simulation) are in the process of development, prototyping and
testing and will be available in the coming years. The authors believe
that this book will contribute to a better understanding and acceptance
of these technologies. The book is complemented by the mission profiles
of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster
Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) and the JBGIS member
societies.
The book is intended to target political and administrative
decision-makers as well as administrative emergency practitioners, but
also technical experts from different disciplines including computer
science, information technology, engineering, and disaster management.
The editors would like to thank the members of the Joint Board of
Geospatial Information Societies for approving the project, and the
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, the United Nations World
Food Programme, the foundation Compagnia di San Paolo and ITHACA for all
the valuable support given to the realization of this book. Furthermore
the editors want to express their sincere thanks to two persons, namely
Prof. John Trinder and Dr. Gerhard Kemper. Prof. Trinder took care of
the proofreading with unprecedented capacity. Dr. Kemper designed the
layout of the booklet with his well-proven competence. Without their
help this publication would not have been realized.
We wish to thank the ISPRS Council for their encouragement and
support for all stages of the preparation of the booklet to its
completion.
Orhan ALTAN, Robert BACKHAUS, Piero BOCCARDO and Sisi ZLATANOVA
The publication can be downloaded at: http://www.un-spider.org/sites/default/files/VALIDPublication.pdf
(9MB) or
without login for the full 30 MB version
https://app.box.com/s/ch80uodlfz29tzn11f9q
