Space Technology plays a very important role in Disaster Management. Without this a proper management of disasters is not possible. Disaster Mitigation and Space technology communities work together in developing effective and accurate methods for prevention, preparedness and relief measures. Disaster Prevention is a long term, which can best be studied with the help of satellite monitoring of various relevant factors, such as, changing land use, temperature etc. Disaster Preparedness focuses on warning and forecasts impending disaster and often entails processes, which are quite dynamic. In general, Disaster relief occurs after (and sometimes during) the emergency. An important aspect in terms of satellite monitoring involves assessment of the damage incurred during the disaster. Satellite technology can also help in identifying escape routes and locations for storage of temporary housing.

Remote Sensing or Earth Observation System (EOS) and GIS are among many tools available to disaster management professionals today; making the effective project planning very much and more accurate now than ever before. There are many types of sensors for the purpose of observing natural hazards, the variety of spectral bands in VIS (visible), NIR (near infrared), IR (infrared), SWIR (short wave infrared), TIR (thermal infrared) and SAR (Syntehtic Aperture Radar) provide adequate spectral coverage and allow computer enhancement of the data for this purpose. Experts try to monitor the situation, stimulate the comlicated natural phenomenon as accurately as possible so as to come up with better prediction models, suggest appropriate contingency plans and prepare spatial databases. From the inherent characteristics, namely, spatial continuity, uniform accuracy and precision, multi-temporal coverage and complete coverage regardless of site location, the remote sensed data can be used very effectively, for:

a) Quickly assessing severity and impact of damage due to flooding, earthquakes, oil spills and other disasters;
b)  Planning efficient escape routes from coastal areas during hurricane season;
c)  Charting quickest routes for ambulances to reach victims;
d)  Locating places for shelter for victims or refugees;
e)  Calculating population density in disaster prone areas;
f)   Rapidly identfying hardest-hit disaster areas in order to provide early warning of potential disasters;
g)   Pre-disaster assessments to facilitate planning for timely evacuation and recovery operations during a crisis.
h)  Monitoring reconstruction or rehabilitation after a major disaster.
i)   Developing maintaining or updating accurate base maps.

Remote Sensing have added new techniques which can be used for various applications in the field of disaster management. Names of a few agencies that receive/distribute data are give below:

a)  RadarStat International (RSI), Canada
b)  Canada Center for Remote Sensing, Canada
c)  Center for Remote Sensing and Processing (CRISP), Singapore;
d)  National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), India
e)  Space Imaging, USA;
f)   SPOT Imaging, France; and
g)  EROS Data Center (EDC), USA;

Then there are different types of satellites, which are used for remote sensing. A few are:

a) RADARSAT satellites
b) LANDSAT Series
c) NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
d) SPOT  series
e) MOS (Marine Observation Satellite)
f) JERS-1 (Japan Earth Resources Satellite)
g) IRS (Indian Remote Sensing Satellites)
h) IKONOS satellite

Digital Globe launched a low altitude (450 Km) satellite, Quick Bird, on October 18, 2001 opening a new commercial channel with highest publicity available resolution. The Satellite has 61 cm panchromatic and 2.44 m multipectral sensors. Apart from these there are different other types of satellites, whose data if effectively used then , we can move step closer in creation of a Disaster Free World.

Thanks for taking your time and reading this post. Kindly visit the disaster management website:

www.mainaksworld.com

--- Regards,

     Mr. Mainak Mazumder

     Founder of MAINAKSWORLD

     Environmentalist (Double Gold Medallist) and Specialist in Disaster Management (Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems)

      E-mail:   admin@mainaksworld.com  or   mainaksworld@yahoo.com