Geospatial technologies currently used for Disaster Mitigation and Management

Geospatial technologies currently used for Disaster Mitigation and Management
Geospatial technologies provide powerful capabilities for disaster/hazard planning, monitoring and mitigation. Through the ability to rapidly assess proximity of resources as well as provide tools to route those resources to and from a disaster area, GIS can greatly improve disaster response efficiency. The majority of this  information is spatial and can be mapped.

Once the information is mapped and data is linked to the map, emergency management planning can begin. Using GIS, information can be layered and analysed to understand natural disasters and therefore reduce impact of the disasters. Satellite data is very useful in creating different kinds of maps such as topographic, land use, land cover and density (building, roadway, stream, etc) maps. Maps created through satellite imagery can be produced more easily on large scale and for wide areas in different resolutions, depending on the purpose. Geospatial technology can address various stages of disaster management, including planning and mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

Planning and mitigation: As potential emergency situations are identified, mitigation needs can be determined and prioritised. For example, in the case of an earthquake, which infrastructure is within the primary impact zone of earthquake faults. Using geospatial information, officials can pinpoint hazards and evaluate the risk and consequences of potential emergencies or disasters. Values at risk can be displayed quickly and efficiently through a GIS. Utilising existing databases linked to geographic features in GIS makes this possible.

Preparedness: GIS can provide answers to questions such as how many paramedics and logistics units are required and where should they be located. GIS has potential to display "real-time" monitoring of aspects like earth movements, reservoir level at dam sights, radiation monitors and so forth. Geospatial technology is a tool for planning of evacuation routes, for the design of centres for emergency operations and for integration of satellite data with other relevant data in the design of disaster warning systems. Response: Geo-information can assist immediately in the event of a disaster by helping decision makers understand the scope of the damage and identify locations where people may be trapped or injured or require medical support and rescue. It is essential to analyse critical infrastructure (facilities essential for the operation and sustainability of health services, food services and government operations) that is or could be damaged or destroyed to restore vital services and government operations. Decision makers can assign response resources to the highest life safety and facility repair priorities. Another critical mission that geospatial technology supports is establishment of emergency supply chain management.

Recovery: A GIS can work in concert with GPS to locate each damaged facility, identify the type and amount of damage and help relief workers and decision makers to establish priorities for action. A GIS can display areas where services have been restored in order to quickly reallocate recovery work to priority tasks. Long-term plans and progress can be displayed and tracked utilising a GIS.

Emerging technologies
GIS, remote sensing and GNSS have been the traditionally used geospatial technologies in disaster management. However, various other technologies are increasingly contributing to various aspects of disaster management. One such technology is LiDAR that is finding application in areas like flood readiness through creation of flood risk maps.

LiDAR technology is needed to create a highly accurate GIS-based topographic layer for automated hydrological systems analysis and flood plan delineation for flood readiness. Technology for flood readiness and speeding up the projects related to flood analysis, require a highly accurate, 10 cm topographic height data is the requirement for hydrological spatial analysis and LiDAR survey is one of the quickest and most accurate methods to produce the requisite digital elevation model (DEM). Using the LiDAR-derived DEM, hydrologists can predict the extent of flooding and accordingly plan mitigation and remediation strategies. LiDAR data is used for the analysis of data accuracy for flood detection and prevention.

Another technology is IfSAR (interferometric synthetic aperture radar) which has a significant role to play in processes like establishment of early warning systems, a crucial element of disaster management since preparedness saves lives.  IFSAR technology provides cloud free imagery and high resolution digital elevation data that can aid planners in selecting safe areas and planning access routes. IfSAR is not affected by smoke, fog, cloud or darkness, it allows more complete coverage over large areas, making it a suitable source of geospatial data for selection of tsunami safe areas and evacuation routes. In many areas not just in Asia Pacific but across the world, IfSAR data offer the only viable means of monitoring active volcanoes or mapping strain building up around faults, detecting earthquakes and modelling risk.

Realising the inherent role of geospatial information and the contribution of geospatial technology, countries are taking initiatives in giving due cognizance to the geospatial information and incorporating the technology to strengthen their disaster management mechanisms.

Challenges
Even though the countries in the region have been strengthening the use of geospatial information and technology in their disaster management initiatives, certain gaps still exist. Some of them were highlighted at the United Nations International Conference on Space‐based Technologies for Disaster Risk Management