CERG Rapid Response Mapping in Disaster Situations
When disasters strike, the first thing the international early response community needs is information: What has happened, where did it happen, what is the effect, what response is needed? Not only can satellite imagery taken immediately after an event like an earthquake or tropical cyclone show what has happened through images of destroyed infrastructure or flood surge, but with their inherent geo-coding, one can tell immediately where the event took place and the apparent impact of the disaster. This is key information for an efficient planning and coordination of emergency response operations. The value of Geographic information systems (GIS) in emergency response arises directly from the benefits of obtaining, integrating, organizing, inquiring and analyzing geographic information and databases. This course introduces the application of GIS in emergency response mapping and damage assessment in disaster situations from the perspective of United Nations.
The aim of the course is to provide training participants with concepts and GIS methodologies to perform satellite based rapid response mapping and damage assessment including the understanding of the benefits and limitations of using geo-spatial information technology in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.
Upon completion of the course, the participants will be able to:
- Explain the role of Geo-information in the response phase of a disaster.
- Gain awareness of GIS methodologies related to the rapid mapping processing chain to support emergency response.
- Identify, access, search, collect, organize and analyze geospatial data for emergency response mapping.
- Apply basic GIS methodologies to perform impact analysis and preliminary damage assessment in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.
The course is extended over 21/2 workdays structured around the following topics:
- Rapid Response mapping in disaster situations.
- Searching, exploring and gathering geospatial data for emergency response mapping.
- Impact analysis and preliminary damage assessment.
- Damange assessment by visual interpretation.
- Building damage assessment.
The course is divided into 3 modules. Each module is structured into 4 sessions of 1.5 hours each. The number of estimated hours required to complete the course is 15 hours, which means a workload of 6 hours on average per day.
This is a face to face course. Full time lectures and GIS lab exercises using real case disaster scenarios from past events (80% Lab Exercise, 20% lectures and discussions).
Professionals working in governmental organizations who wish to strengthen their GIS skills in emergency response mapping. It is recommended that participants taking the course have a working knowledge of English including basic experience in GIS and Remote Sensing applications.
Institution:
This course will be delivered by UNOSAT, the operational satellite applications programme of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
UNOSAT is a technology intensive programme active in all aspects of applied research relating to satellite solutions, from earth observation to telecommunications, positioning and navigation. UNOSAT delivers satellite solutions , geographic information to organizations within and outside the UN system to make a difference in the lives of communities exposed to poverty, hazards, and conflict, or affected by humanitarian and other crises.
Language:
English
Software Required:
GIS lab exercises will be based on ESRI ArcGIS 10.2 with extensions (spatial analyst), Google Earth, Access to internet
Class Size:
The number of participants is limited to 20.
Course Coordnation
Mr. Luca Dell’Oro, Research Associate, UNITAR/UNOSAT (luca.delloro [at] unitar.org (luca[dot]delloro[at]unitar[dot]org))