Training of Crisis Mappers and Map Production from Multi-sensor Data: Vernazza Case Study (Cinque Terre National Park, Italy)

This aim of paper is to presents the development of a multidisciplinary project carried out by the cooperation between Politecnico di Torino and ITHACA (Information Technology for Humanitarian Assistance, Cooperation and Action). The goal of the project was the training in geospatial data acquiring and processing for students attending Architecture and Engineering Courses, in order to start up a team of "volunteer mappers". Indeed, the project is aimed to document the environmental and built heritage subject to disaster; the purpose is to improve the capabilities of the actors involved in the activities connected in geospatial data collection, integration and sharing. The proposed area for testing the training activities is the Cinque Terre National Park, registered in the World Heritage List since 1997. The area was affected by flood on the 25th of October 2011. According to other international experiences, the group is expected to be active after emergencies in order to upgrade maps, using data acquired by typical geomatic methods and techniques such as terrestrial and aerial Lidar, close-range and aerial photogrammetry, topographic and GNSS instruments etc.; or by non conventional systems and instruments such us UAV, mobile mapping etc. The ultimate goal is to implement a WebGIS platform to share all the data collected with local authorities and the Civil Protectio

A Study of Disaster Management System with View of Manet Application

In the modern era, Disaster Management has become an important field of study. With the advent of telecommunication system and their possible integration with the existing disaster management system, it is possible to minimize the after effects of disaster. In this paper we present a study of available and possible disaster management system based on wireless mobile telecommunication. In order to use such a system in the actual world security requirements such as availability, accountability, integrity and confidentiality must be ensured by the disaster management system

The Acceptance of Using Information Technology for Disaster Risk Management: A Systematic Review

The numbers of natural disaster events are continuously affecting human and the world economics. For coping with disaster, several sectors try to develop the frameworks, systems, technologies and so on. However, there are little researches focusing on the usage behavior of Information Technology (IT) for disaster risk management (DRM). Therefore, this study investigates the affecting factors on the intention to use IT for mitigating disaster’s impacts. This study conducted a systematic review with the academic researches during 2011-2018. Two important factors from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and others are used in describing individual behavior. In order to investigate the potential factors, the technology platforms are divided into nine types. According to the findings, computer software such as GIS applications are frequently used for simulation and spatial data analysis. Social media is preferred among the first choices during disaster events in order to communicate about situations and damages. Finally, we found five major potential factors which are Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), information accessibility, social influence, and disaster knowledge. Among them, the most essential one of using IT for disaster management is PU, while PEOU and information accessibility are more important in the web platforms

Geohazards in the three Gorges Reservoir Area, China – Lessons learned from decades of research

Abstract The impoundment of the 660-km long reservoir behind the huge Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower station, increased regional seismicity and reactivated severe geohazards. Before the reservoir filling was initiated in 2003, the region had approximately two earthquakes per year with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.9; after the full impoundment in 2008, approximately 14 earthquakes per year occurred with magnitudes between 3.0 and 5.4. In addition, hundreds of landslides were reactivated and are now in a state of intermittent creep. Many landslides exhibit step-like annual pattern of displacement in response to quasi-regular variations in seasonal rainfall and reservoir level. Additional problems include rock avalanches, impulse waves and debris flows. The seriousness of these events motivated numerous studies that resulted in 1) Better insight into the behavior and evolution mechanism of geohazards in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA); 2) Implementation of monitoring and early-warning systems of geohazards; and 3) Design and construction of preventive countermeasures including lattice anchors, stabilizing piles, rock bolts, drainage canals and tunnels, and huge revetments. This paper reviews the hydro-geologic setting of TGRA geohazards, examines their occurrence and evolution in the past few decades, offers insight learned from extensive research on TGRA geohazards, and suggests topics for future research to address the remaining challenges

Risk Analysis and Land Use Planning

Natural hazards are potentially damaging physical events and phenomena, which may cause the loss of life; injury or human life disruption; property damage; social, economic, and political disruption; or environmental degradation. Systematic approach to the natural hazard research on the base of risk concept is a very fruitful and progressive method. Areas of possible disaster events could be the places of the highest risk at the natural risk maps of the territories. It is necessary to use big databases and data banks and GIS technologies for such map constructions. Sometimes people have to live in such dangerous places. It is necessary for people living under natural risk to understand and estimate this risk and to know how to overcome it and how to act in case of crises events. Risk management concept is a good instrument for systematic approach to the problems of the rational land use

"Last-Mile" preparation for a potential disaster

Extreme natural events, like e.g. tsunamis or earthquakes, regularly lead to catastrophes with dramatic consequences. In recent years natural disasters caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, destruction of infrastructure, disruption of economic activity and loss of billions of dollars worth of property and thus revealed considerable deficits hindering their effective management: Needs for stakeholders, decision-makers as well as for persons concerned include systematic risk identification and evaluation, a way to assess countermeasures, awareness raising and decision support systems to be employed before, during and after crisis situations. The overall goal of this study focuses on interdisciplinary integration of various scientific disciplines to contribute to a tsunami early warning information system. In comparison to most studies our focus is on high-end geometric and thematic analysis to meet the requirements of small-scale, heterogeneous and complex coastal urban systems. Data, methods and results from engineering, remote sensing and social sciences are interlinked and provide comprehensive information for disaster risk assessment, management and reduction. In detail, we combine inundation modeling, urban morphology analysis, population assessment, socio-economic analysis of the population and evacuation modeling. The interdisciplinary results eventually lead to recommendations for mitigation strategies in the fields of spatial planning or coping capacity

Production of semi-real time media-GIS contents of natural disasters using MODIS satellite data

In the event of a natural disaster, the information provided to the public can play an important role in its mitigation and management. Use of media-GIS content has been shown to provide information that is visual and accessible to the public. This report focuses on the information provided to the public through the media and develops rigorous production methods and quality practices to encourage increased strategic use of media-GIS content. The report utilizes three natural disaster case studies to evaluate the production method and presents recommendations and conclusions based on the information these provide. Previous studies identified five aspects that are important to media-GIS contents. These are accuracy, high aesthetic quality, speed, low cost and reusability. A review of MODIS imagery has shown it to sufficiently satisfy all five aspects. The report identifies an ideal source of MODIS data and a production method based on the information available to be obtained. By applying this methodology to the three case studies, it was found that the process could be more streamlined than previously identified methods. Further observations identified both positive and negative aspects of the method allowing improvements to be made were possible. Whilst limitations of MODIS were identified, the properties of MODIS data make it evident that it is the most effective source of satellite data for the production of media-GIS content where time and cost need to be minimised. Completion of the case studies led to the production of a guidebook, presented in Appendix F, which is intended to be issued to media outlets as an instruction manual for producing media-GIS contents. It is hoped that this will encourage an increase in the use of GIS within the media industry and provide thorough production method and quality practices information