International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII Part 7C2, UNISPACE III, Vienna. 1999 
82 
I5PRS 
UNISPACE III-ISPRS/EARSeL Workshop on 
“Remote Sensing for the Detection, Monitoring 
and Mitigation of Natural Disasters” 
2:30-5:30 pm, 22 July 1999, VIC Room B 
Vienna, Austria 
Linsenbarth gave another example of the application of remote sensing for natural disaster monitoring and forecasting can be the so-called 
Black Triangle project conducted by the European Commission within the PHARE programme. Pollution problems cross boundaries and 
the importance of international co-operation is stressed for the establishment of common programmes and systems for early warning, 
monitoring and prevention. 
Atmospheric hazards 
Wood from NOAA explained how NO AA relies on Earth observing satellite data to carry out its operational mission to monitor, predict, and 
assess changes in the Earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans. In NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 
(NESDIS), satellite data are used to help lessen the impacts of natural and man-made disasters due to tropical cyclones, flash floods, heavy 
snowstorms, volcanic ash clouds (for aviation safety), sea ice (for shipping safety), and harmful algal blooms along U.S. coastlines. 
Conclusions 
There are well documented examples of remote sensing being used with great success for all of the activities related to hazards which lave 
been discussed at the workshop, but there are also occasions where the potential resources have not been available, or have not been 
mobilised. There are several key themes which have emerged: international cooperation is essential: more techniques must be developed 
for integrating data from a variety of sources; and advanced planning and incorporation of remotely sensed data into existing planning 
systems is highly desirable. 
In conclusion it can be stated that many techniques using Earth observation data are being used effectively to manage natural disasters but 
that more effort is needed if disaster prediction is to be a reality and also to plan responses. More research is needed to integrate and 
effectively exploit new data sources. 
Summary of conclusions 
The papers and discussion in this workshop have shown that remote sensing provides scientists the data needed for predictive modelling of 
natural disasters, appraisal of the damages, and for mitigating the deleterious effects which precede or accompany the disaster. Remote 
sensing is also recognised as an essential information source for the initial detection, near real-time observation of the effects, and support of 
search, rescue and assistance efforts. Many international cooperative activities are now being developed through the efforts of organisations 
such as CEOS and through international bilateral arrangements. The Workshop reviewed the status of these international efforts to use 
remotely sensed data for Monitoring and Mitigation of Natural Disasters and offers the following conclusions: 
□ In order to effectively use remotely sensed data for dealing with natural disasters, crisis management systems must be in place. This 
allows planning and collaboration between relevant agencies and rapid response to emergencies. 
□ Considerable international cooperative efforts are needed to use remote sensing data and information to develop indicators of disaster 
prone areas and mitigation strategies/scenarios. 
□ Integration of all available remotely sensed data and other types of data will greatly add to the value of all such data. Data integration 
teclmiques are being developed but further research into this is essential. 
□ Space imaging, communication and positioning systems can be effective tools for management of earthquake hazards. Space borne 
imaging systems can provide the indicators, maps and measurements of quake prone areas which can be used for evacuation routing, 
urban planning and vulnerability statistics. 
□ More research is encouraged to explore the potential advantages of new Earth observing remote sensing systems which have higher 
resolution, more spectral bands or use active sensors (interferometric SAR. Lidar). 
□ Spacebome Synthetic Aperture Radars have demonstrated to be effective all-weather remote sensing imagers for oil pollution effects, 
especially for the detection of oil pollutants; measurement of their areal extent, direction and growth; and for identification of the 
pollutant sources in international waters.