Experience and Perspective of Providing Satellite Based Crisis Information, Emergency Mapping & Disaster Monitoring Information to Decision Makers and Relief Workers

Abstract

Recognizing an increasing demand for up-to-date and precise information on disaster and crisis situations the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of DLR has set up a dedicated interface for linking the available and comprehensive remote sensing and analysis capacities with national and international civil protection, humanitarian relief actors and political decision makers. This so called “Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information” (ZKI) is engaged in the acquisition, analysis and provision of satellite based information products on natural disasters, humanitarian crisis situation, and civil security. Besides response and assessment activities, DFDZKI also focuses on the provision of geoinformation for medium term rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention activities. DFD-ZKI operates in national, European and international contexts, closely networking with public authorities (civil security), non-governmental organizations (humanitarian relief organizations), satellite operators and other space agencies. ZKI supports the “International Charter on Space and Major Disasters”, which is a major cooperative activity among international space agencies in the context of natural and man-made disasters.

Different examples on the analysis and fusion of satellite imagery for information extraction and mapping actions in several disaster events are presented. These include examples from earthquakes, floods, forest fires as well as man made disasters and humanitarian relief. The full cycle from emergency call, satellite tasking, data acquisition, pre-processing, interpretation, map generation and provision of the information to the end-user is presented. In all the demonstrated cases the data were generated and provided either through in house satellite acquisitions, the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters or through other national and international data provision networks. It is shown how satellite imagery can be assessed, processed and turned into information products provided to decision makers within hours. Furthermore, gaps between research and real world, near-real-time mapping requirements are discussed.