International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B7. Istanbul 2004
2.2.3 Space Systems: The Action Team prepared a
document containing a detailed inventory of space systems and
the related data products and policies (Mahmood, 2002). The
information compiled in the document assisted the Action Team
in evaluating the effectiveness of space technologies to meet the
needs of the users and the ability of their respective countries to
integrate space technologies into their disaster management
structures. The potential benefits of space information in
disaster management can be grouped into two primary phases:
A 'hot phase" covering the emergency response, and a "cold
phase" or the period preceding or following the crisis. Space
systems are a unique tool in managing the "hot phase" and a
valuable asset when combined with other technologies in
planning disaster reduction and prevention. The said document
describes the various sensors and missions, product types and
applicable data policies.
3. MAIN FINDINGS
Based on the information collected, working groups from the
member countries were formed to study possible features of an
integrated global disaster management system from various
aspects. These working groups focused on identifying the key
technical, operational, organizational, financial and educational
issues and their implication for each type of disaster.
3.1 Practical Issues for Specific Types of Disasters
3.1.1 Floods: Two points were underlined by the
concerned working group. Firstly, the most important piece of -
information needed following this disaster occurrence is a wide-
area map, with proper markers for localization. The same map
can be generated at a regular frequency to monitor the flood
condition. Secondly, floods are treated as crisis despite their
recurrence; therefore, more attention needs to be given to the
prevention phase. In order to derive flood maps, space data are
merged with geospatial data, such as terrain elevation models,
geological and land use maps, demographic statistics, etc.,
which, if at all available, are not of required accuracy in many
countries. Funding and data policies are a problem in acquiring
the space and other maps.
3.12 Forest Fires: Both the temporal frequency and the
spectral coverage should be improved. Data policies, formats
and communication capabilities are the limiting factors in
making optimal use of space data and the funding sources are
not reliable. Although only a few in number, there are
specialized institutions that can be involved for generating
value-added operational products and for training of personnel.
3.1.3 Drought is an evolving disaster and, as such, does not
have an emergency response phase, like the other disasters. It
does not have special spatial and temporal resolution
requirements, although spectral resolution for soil and
landcover moisture determination is important for this disaster.
Space technologies need to help in refining drought prediction
models.
3.1.4 Earthquakes: The management of this disaster is
still in large part in the realm of research and development.
Very high- resolution optical sensors are most effective in
assessing damage to infrastructure. — Seismic zone hazard
mapping and prediction modelling can be helped by the
emerging radar interferometric techniques based on the
selection of scattering references.
3.1.85 Oil Spills: A single sensor is not always capable of
detecting an oil spill in a reliable manner. Data from various
types of space-borne sensors (synthetic aperture radar,
panchromatic, multispectral and hyperspectral imagres) are
needed to be combined with ground data (airborne and
meteorological) and geographic information systems, including
bathymetry. In view of the shifting wind conditions, a daily
coverage is necessary for monitoring purposes. The value-
added products should provide measurements on the thickness
of the oil spill.
3.1.6 Ice Hazard: The purpose of managing ice hazard is
to allow ships transiting icy waters safely and to support
maritime rescue operations. Synthetic aperture radar sensors
are the most widely used for this purpose. The primary issue
here is the near real-time delivery of ice products, and in this
regard the current operational arrangements between the
Canadian and the U.S. ice services for using RADARSAT-I
data can be considered as a model. The data-sharing
arrangements and the associated funding support are however
not considered sustainable in the future.
3.2 Implications for an Integrated System
Technically and operationally, satellite coverage and data
turnaround stand out as the main issue. There are not many
countries with ground stations that are able to receive and
process satellite data. ^ An important achievement of the
proposed global system should be to improve significantly the
data turnaround time to say within 24 hours. A coordinated
response to a disaster by means of a single point of access to
global assets is required.
From an organizational viewpoint, local capacity building and
information sharing are the key issues. These can be met by
assigning a designated governmental authority that would be
responsible for disaster relief and mitigation and that would
interface with the space data and service providers. These
national authorities should themselves be equipped with the
front-end architecture, such as cartographic, hydrological,
meteorological and demographic databases critical for an
effective use of Earth observation satellite data in the disaster
management cycle. Disasters require timely and up-to-date
situational analyses through the full cycle of disaster
management, namely mitigation, preparedness, recovery and
response linked to geosocial databases or thematic maps.
The main financial issue concerns data pricing policies of space
data providers and the funding for defraying the cost of data,
operating a global system and developing value-added products
and services. Even though the data policies of individual space
operators are not always driven by commercial considerations,
there has so far been no attempt to devise a single international
Earth observation data policy. Nearly every country has put in
place some sort of a disaster management structure, either at the
national or regional level, however, the operation of a global
system demands global funding sources, and in this regard the
international funding institutions (banks, aid organizations.) and
stakeholder contributions (insurance sector, development
programs) can be targeted.
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