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International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B7. Istanpul 2004
3.3 Required Characteristics of an Integrated System
The concept of a global integrated disaster management system
that employs space resources should take into account the
current imbalance between disaster response and recovery and
longer term planning and prevention. For example, early
warning systems for floods, droughts and landslides should be
as much the focus of space data applications as recovery from a
disaster happening.
A better understanding between technology and data providers
and the users needs to be established. Simply facilitating access
to data holdings will not necessarily maximize data use. In fact
a more flexible means of establishing information-service
pathways will have to be evolved to meet the various needs of
the users if the use of Earth observation data is to be advanced
and sustained.
Disaster management in most countries is spread over several
responsibility centres, which is not helpful for the integration of
space technologies. A single point of contact should be
designated to interface with space data providers and should be
part of the global space-supported disaster management system.
An international centre, virtual or physical, for disaster
management connected to local and regional structures is one
way of implementing the system. One of the main roles of such
an international entity would be that of a study centre, which
would provide quick and effective consultancy and decision-
making alternatives to its customers and associates.
Another important element of the global system is that the
space-based disaster management support should be a common
endeavour among all stakeholders, public and private, requiring
participation of technology suppliers and operators, data users,
insurance and communications industries and government
sponsorship to share costs and responsibilities of the system
operation.
There are some notable international efforts, which need to be
strengthened and complemented by the creation of a global
disaster management system.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 Concept
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the concept derived
from the characteristics described above. The concept is based
on a 'Disaster Management Space Support System ' or 'DMS3'
(Mahmood, 2002) that provides essentially stakeholder linkages
and pathways in a global system that covers all the four phases
of the disaster management cycle and offers universal access.
Some of the current international disaster management
initiatives, like the International Charter 'Space and Major
Disasters’ (Bessis et al, 2003), which looks after the response
and recovery phase of a disaster, become natural associates of
the system. The Figure illustrates the coordination that the
system will allow among the various stakeholder groups, such
as the civil protection and environmental security agencies,
lending institutions or banks, emergency response centres.
These are collectively called 'Authorized Users' of space-
derived and value-added data and information, which are
obtained from partner space agencies and expert affiliated
centres.
859
4.2 Implementation
In order to implement the concept and characteristics suggested
for a global integrated disaster management system, the Action
Team has made the following three recommendations.
4.2.1 Recommendation 1: An international space
coordination body for disaster management nominally
identified as the 'Disaster Management International Space
Coordination Organization (DMISCO)' should be established.
Such a body would have the mandate to provide the necessary
means to optimise the efficiency of services for disaster
management. It would ensure affordable, comprehensive and
universal space-based delivery by fully utilizing existing and
planned space and ground assets and infrastructures, and with
the full participation of organizations and mechanisms currently
in place. The proposed organization would act as the focal
point for the global space efforts in support of disaster
management.
4.2.2 Recommendation 2: A fund should be established as
a sustainable resource used for applying space technologies in
support of disaster management and for capacity building. The
primary contributors to the funding resource should be
development and relief organizations and those who would be
the main beneficiaries of disaster reduction.
4.2.3 Recommendation 3: Member States should be
encouraged to allocate a portion of their disaster management
resource/funds to using space technologies and to identify
single points of contact for their respective countries in order to
focus their internal disaster management activities and to liaise
with external efforts.
References
Bessis, J-L., Béquignon, J. and Mahmood, A., 2003. The
International Charter "Space and Major Disasters" initiative.
Acta Astronautica, 54 (2003), pp. 183-190.
Mahmood, A., 2002. Report on Space Program, Systems and
Policies for Disaster Management, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
http://www .oosa.unvienna.org/unisp-
3/followup/action_team 07
Walter, J., ed., 2003. International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies, World Disasters Report 2003: Focus on
Ethics in Aid. Bloomfield, Connecticut, U.S.A., Kumarian
Press, p. 239.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the country delegates of the Action Team for
their contribution to this work. Special thanks are due to Dr.
Ian Downey of the British National Space Centre for helping
with the Action Team report and recommendations.
