tanbul 2004 
INTEGRATION OF IMAGERIES IN GIS 
FOR DISASTER PREVENTION SUPPORT SYSTEM 
W. Lu *, S. Mannen, M. Sakamoto, O. Uchida, T. Doihara 
“ Research Institute, Asia Air Survey Co. Ltd., Tamura 8-10, Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan 
(luwei, st.mann, mi.sakamoto, os.uchida, ta.doihara)@ ajiko.co.jp 
Commission VI, WG II/5 
KEY WORDS: change detection, high-resolution aerial images, dynamic and multidimensional GIS, spatial decision support 
system, spatial-temporal GIS 
ABSTRACT: 
This paper presents the results of imagery integration in disaster prevention system for the project of “Special Project for Earthquake 
Disaster Mitigation in Urban Areas”. The proposed approaches differ from existing ones as follows: support registration and spatial- 
temporal management of (a) original aerial imageries, (b) images of other resources, such as raster result of all kinds of manual or 
automatic analytical results of the original aerial imageries, (c) video and snap images. Functions for vector conversion for images 
analytical result, such as extraction of changes, are also provided for further analysis with GIS functionalities. For imageries of high 
resolution and therefore huge size, they are hierarchically restructured for high access speed. Initial evaluation tests with the 
prototype system of the above specifications show that the system can build up multimedia database within a few hours for timely 
spatial decision support. The accessibility and comprehensibility of multimedia database is superior to those of the existing systems. 
1. INTRODUCTION (a) Functions for registering and managing original aerial 
imageries. Tie points are registered, and the original central 
Recently orthogonal images as background information of GIS projected images are transformed with projection transform. In 
have been very popular, as long as the budget allows. While this way, with little delay of time, the aerial imageries confirm 
orthogonal images offer precise correspondence between with GIS vector data with the precision of its DSM. To absorb 
symbolized ground features, they require long processing time, the displacement of image due to variation in DSM, function for 
in addition to their high costs. When a natural disaster happens, adjusting image display position is also implemented. 
ground investigation of damages might be difficult without (b) Functions for registering and displaying images of other 
indirect means of survey, such as comparison of high-resolution resources, such as raster result of all kinds of manual or 
imageries taken before and after the disaster. The project of automatic analytical results of the original aerial imageries, 
"Special Project for Earthquake Disaster Mitigation in Urban especially change detection in the case of a disaster. To make 
Areas" is initiated by The Research and Development Bureau the reference of background images, as mentioned above, or 
of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and other geo-spatial features, functions such as transparent display, 
Technology (BMECSST, 2002). It started from August of 2002 alpha blending, flood filling with selectable patterns, 
and is scheduled for three years, extensible to five years. classification according to selected features and so on. 
The authors' research team belongs to the third core project and (c) Functions for registering and managing video and snap 
emphasizes on data collection and information retrieval. Here, images, with geo-spatial keys for spatial searching and 
data collection aims at registering and managing live data visualization. 
collected during disaster management activities. Data can be Functions for vector conversion for images analytical result, 
either multimedia data such as aerial imagery, satellite imagery such as extraction of changes, are also provided for further 
of high resolution and video data, or document files as analysis with GIS functionalities. 
generated by DTP or spreadsheet applications. Information All the multimedia objects are managed in spatial-temporal 
retrieval aims at providing user with data inputting, searching, space, so that comparison between situations before and after a 
analysing environment, based on the results of data collection. disaster becomes handy. For imageries of high resolution and 
The authors have performed fundamental analysis of system therefore huge size, they are hierarchically restructured for high 
requirement and specification design in the first year of the access speed. 
project (Lu 2003). Initial evaluation tests with the prototype system of the above 
This paper presents the specific design and implementation for specifications show that the system can build up multimedia 
the integration of imageries in the decision support system as a database within a few hours for timely spatial decision support. 
means of dynamic information generation, in combination with The accessibility and comprehensibility of multimedia database 
both existing ground feature information and the analysis result is superior to those of the existing systems. 
obtained through automatic or semi-automatic comparison of 
temporal imageries. It differs from existing usage of imageries 
simply as background orthogonal images in the following ways: 
e 
Corresponding author. 
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