 Satellite Earth Observation and Disaster Risks
Information Session Lead: Ph Bally (ESA)
Members: 16
Reducing the vulnerability of our societies and the risk of natural disasters can be supported by understanding our environment and the fundamental mechanisms that drive changes to the environment. The field of Earth Observation (EO) is an important element for improved knowledge of hazards, risks and potential disasters as a basis for efficient decision making, better mitigation, and preparedness for disasters. Satellite EO can support scientists and operational users for a range of applications. This is the case for risk assessment for prevention & preparedness and the immediate response phase, two areas where information needs are different. Recent achievements and reflections in user communities involved with satellite imagery and hazard risk have focused on how EO based response and EO based risk mapping can be linked. A broad range of themes are concerned from hydro-meteorological hazards to geohazards. For instance this is the case for flood hazards in Africa. Lead: Philippe Bally & Jane Olwoch ESA’s overview of EO capabilities for Disaster Risk Management - Philippe Bally World Bank - European Space Agency Collaboration in using EO for Disaster Risk Assessment - Anna Burzykowska EO technologies for flood mapping and hydrological modelling in Namibia - Guido Van Langenhove SANSA's Controbutions Towards Disaster Management - Paida Mangara Applications of Earth Observation for Disaster Risk Management - Hicham Ezzine Disaster Early Warning and Response Activities at RCMRD - Tesfaye Korme Discussion ForumMembers (16)
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Comment wall (3 comments)
What type of coverage and frequency can satellites offer for operational flood monitoring in Africa?
Most flood monitoring will want to use all-weather radar data, like those offered by CSA's RADARSAT-2, DLR's TerraSAR-X or until recently JAXA’s ALOS or ESA’s ASAR on ENVISAT. With current satellites, redundancy make it possible to offer once daily coverage over large areas. When JAXA’s ALOS-2 is launched later this year, and ESA’s Sentinel-1 satellite is launched in 2014, even larger areas will be covered, enabling routine monitoring of all major floods. When cloud cover and spatial resolution are not issues, NASA’s MODIS sensor on Aqua & Terra offers twice daily coverage at 250m (compared to 3-100m for the SAR data).
Thanks, Philippe.