An Analysis of Geospatial Technologies for Risk and Natural Disaster Management

Abstract

This paper discusses the use of spatial data for risk and natural disaster management. The importance of remote-sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data is stressed by comparing studies of the use of these technologies for natural disaster management. Spatial data sharing is discussed in the context of the establishment of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) for natural disasters. Some examples of SDI application in disaster management are analyzed, and the need for participation from organizations and governments to facilitate the exchange of information and to improve preventive and emergency plans is reinforced. Additionally, the potential involvement of citizens in the risk and disaster management process by providing voluntary data collected from volunteered geographic information (VGI) applications is explored. A model relating all of the spatial data-sharing aspects discussed in the article was suggested to elucidate the importance of the issues raised.

Recent Developments and Future Trends in Volunteered Geographic Information Research: The Case of OpenStreetMap

“…Ushahidi [26], a different platform that collects humanitarian crisis information, was initially developed to map reports of violence in Kenya in 2008 and has evolved into a valuable tool during a number of projects in recent years. The potential of VGI has also been proven for urban management purposes [27], flood damage estimation [28], wild fire evacuation [29] or other important cases of risk, crisis and natural disaster management [30][31][32] or responses [33][34][35].…”

A Multi-Function Disaster Decision Support System Based on Multi-Source Dynamic Data

“…The consolidation and conversion of data and illustrating spatial data into diagrams help users of disaster prevention information and resources communicate and coordinate matters in disaster-prone regions, rapidly and accurately control disaster situations and resources, and allocation information and make decisions. The scope and content of network technologies in disaster prevention applications have consistently expanded in the past decade, and the research, development, and application of disaster prevention technologies have continued to advance (Hsu, 2005;Su et al, 2010;Merrett & Chen, 2010;Manfré, 2012). An immense amount of data has become available, including topographical, geological, hydrological, environmental, construction, and cadastral data, as well as data on sensitive locations and various types disaster trends and model predictions.…”

An Appraisal of Geomorphic Characteristics and Flood Susceptibility Zone using Remote Sensing and GIS: A Case Study in Bongaon Subdivision, North 24 Parganas (West Bengal), India

“…The geospatial technology has made significant contribution in natural hazard analysis [7] . Earlier studies have made several efforts in flood mapping and monitoring using remote sensing and GIS [8][9][10] , probabilistic methods [11] , hydrological and stochastic rainfall method [12] , neural network methods [13,14] .…”