An emergency becomes a disaster when it exceeds the capability of the local resources to manage it. With increasing population and housing densities, the world continues to experience rising dangers and damages from natural and manmade disasters. Deaths, injuries, and loss of property will increase around the world due to disasters, unless changes are made to the manner in which we respond. Effective disaster management and response demands rapid utilization of information and data from many sources. Visualization and spatial applications are critical during pre- and post-disaster management and response. The ability to seamlessly integrate and distribute digital data into spatially explicit forms for situation, rapid assessment and analysis during and after a disaster remains a challenge.

To meet this challenge, UNOSAT is offering a course with an integrated approach on how information management and sharing is enhanced by using GIS tools in disaster situations. The GIS database can be accessed for damage assessments or to locate critical infrastructures. To get an overview of the disaster situation it is crucial for disaster managers to be equipped with these basic tools.

On completion of the course, students will be able to critically analyze the prerequisites and challenges for effective situation/rapid maps and preliminary damage assessments. This may include identifying, collecting, preparing, analyzing and creating maps which will match the needs arising from anticipated future disasters.