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Gis and Natural Hazards: An overview from a Gis Perspective

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Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards

Part of the book series: Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research ((NTHR,volume 5))

Abstract

This paper considers the use and development of geographical information systems (GIS) in helping to reduce the impact of natural hazards. After a brief survey of the diversity of such hazards, an attempt is made to review what has been written in the past, a task made difficult by the wide range of interests involved. The review shows that, within the GIS field proper, relatively little has been published and that, within the disciplines studying natural hazards, few papers describe operational systems that are applied routinely, four examples of which are summarised. The limitations of existing GIS are then considered, with particular reference to the availability and deficiencies of the data on which hazard mitigation must depend, the limited functionality of current GIS, the failure to consider adequately the needs of inexpert users, and infrastructural deficiencies. Ways in which these limitations could be removed are then discussed, with particular reference to the needs of developing countries.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland

    J. Terry Coppock

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  1. J. Terry Coppock
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council, Center of Study on Man-Computer Interaction, Bologna, Italy

    Alberto Carrara

  2. National Research Council, Institute of Research for Hydrogeological Protection, Perugia, Italy

    Fausto Guzzetti

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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Coppock, J.T. (1995). Gis and Natural Hazards: An overview from a Gis Perspective. In: Carrara, A., Guzzetti, F. (eds) Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards. Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8404-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8404-3_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4561-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-8404-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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