Fernerkundung und Naturgefahren

Web Research - State of the Art, June 2001

image 2

Methoden für Risk / Disaster Management und Humanitäre Einsä tze

durchgeführt von

David Oesch, oesch@giub.unibe.ch

Remote Sensing Research Group, Geographisches Institut , Universität Bern

unter der Leitung von

Dr. Stefan Wunderle, swun@giub.unibe.ch

Remote Sensing Research Group, Geographisches Institut , Universität Bern

im Auftrag der

Direktion für Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit (DEZA)

Deza



PDF version of the poster can be dowloaded from

http://saturn.unibe.ch/rsbern/research/projects/hazard/DEZA_print.pdf

Abstract

This report provides decision makers with an overview of remote sensing technologies and their general application in natural hazard assessments. Characteristics of remote sensing techniques and the role remote sensing can play in detecting and mitigating several natural hazards are highlighted.

One of the most important tools available to the regional planners and decision makers is the remote sensing of the environment. Not only is it very useful in the planning process in general, but it is also valuable in detecting and mapping many types of natural hazards when, as is often the case, detailed descriptions of their effects do not exist. If susceptibility to natural hazards can be identified in the early stages of an integrated development planning study, measures can be introduced to reduce the social and economic impacts of potential disasters. The alleviation and mitigation of natural hazards is therefore one of the rare endeavors in which physical science is placed in a position with the capability to directly ease human suffering.

During the past several decades, technology has advanced at an unprecedented rate. The ability to put remote sensors into space and the development of powerful personal computers capable of manipulating large amounts of spatial data are just two of the radical advancements that have reshaped modern perceptions of the planet. They have also created new possibilities in hazard mitigation and disaster management approaches, one of them is the application of remote sensing technology to the assessment of hazards and emergency management. All natural hazards are amenable in some degree to study by remote sensing because nearly all geologic, hydrologic, and atmospheric phenomena that create hazardous situations are recurring events or processes that leave evidence of their previous occurrence. This evidence can be recorded, analyzed, and integrated into the planning process.

Most remote sensing studies concerned with natural hazards have been about an area's vulnerability to a disaster, the monitoring of events which could precipitate a disaster, and the magnitude, extent and duration of a disaster. Studies addressing the role of remotely sensed geographic information in mitigating "instantaneous" disasters have resulted in the following list of potential applications:

- To establish the susceptibility of the land and vulnerability of the society.

- To construct maps of potential hazard areas for use in physical planning (hazard zoning maps).

- To monitor potentially hazardous situations and processes, providing advanced warning.

- To improve management of emergency situations following a disaster.

This report tells decision makers what types of remote sensing information are suitable for identifying and assessing particular natural hazards and where to look for it. The Internet can be utilized as:

- Source of near real-time data useful for emergency management

- Gateway to archived data that were previously difficult or slow to attain

- Pathway for distribution of data

Since the existing remote sensing information may be inadequate for disaster and risk assessment, this report also provides guidelines on selecting and acquiring the appropriate data and their restrictions. An introduction to important remote sensing attributes can be found in the first chapter. Only those sensor systems that are deemed capable of making a insignificant contribution to the natural hazards mitigation and research are discussed, with their specific applications and limitations to the assessment of each of several natural hazards, such as floods, volcanoes, landslides, drought, fire and earthquakes.




Inhaltsverzeichnis