Remote sensing and GIS can play an important role in disaster management by providing tools and techniques for monitoring, mapping, and modeling disasters. This includes early warning systems, finding safe areas, rescue routing, and assessing damage. Some key capabilities are disaster mapping and monitoring, scenario simulation, emergency response support, and vulnerability analysis to help with preparedness, relief, recovery, reconstruction, and mitigation efforts.

1. Role of Remote Sensing and GIS in Disaster
Management
Prepared by Er. Bishnu Khatri
With the achievement and advancement of Science and Technology with growing
human civilization ,Space Technology had become more fruitful and beneficial part at
any sectors /field of study at any level of this universe, space and planets, their
physical, biological and chemical composition revolution, origin and expansion
.Similarly I had tried to summarize and mentioned a few and least method &
application of Space Technology through RS &GIS in Disaster Management .I hope
potential reader will fully love to learn and enjoy this Article
Catastrophe is a dangerous disruption of life which cannot be predicted, either
partially or totally.
Natural Disaster is a dangerous event that causes environmental effects or alteration
(physical, biological, social and economic) and these are of such magnitude that the
ecosystem and or society are unable to tolerate them and remains just witnessing
their basic functioning elements i.e. basic needs and dynamic balance being
destroyed.
The following aspects come into consideration when disaster occur;
 Disruption of lifestyles and behavior pattern
 Impact on man and other living creatures
 Impact on social infrastructure and Eco structures i.e. Banking and Finance
sectors ,Buildings, Transportation System and other vital intersects such as
Food chain ,social aim amenities/basic needs such as Housing ,Food
,Drinking water ,Shelter and Medical care

2. Disaster types;
1. Natural Geological Disaster : It originates from depth of the earth e.g.
Earth quake, Volcano, Tsunami
2. Hydro climatic Disaster : It occurs on surface of earth e.g. Storms
(Hurricanes, Cyclones , Flood , Droughts )
3. Other Catastrophes : These origins are both subterranean and
superficial e.g. Landslides
4. Environmental Disaster : It is caused by excessive harmful human
activity that leads climate change e.g.
A. Floods, Droughts, Desertification due to Deforestation
B. Wild Fires and Forest Fires due to Human carelessness
C. Lethal Diseases e.g. SARS, EBOLA, BIRDFLU, GICA
due to Viral Transmission and Communicative Interaction
5. Technological Disaster : It is caused by both, either from Technical
Errors ,Lack of practice on Safety Management procedure ,Irresponsible Quality
Control of physical and chemical constituent of Matter/Material Used at
Development Infrastructure and Activity or by serious use of Nuclear power
Expose Administration and Power Exercise for their
Country/Regions/Religion/State sovereignty,
it reveals the correlation between natural and technological disasters
e.g. 1. Nuclear Bomb, Hydrogen Bombs, Atom Bomb, Radiation Activity for
War Basis
2. Mining of Coal and Minerals blasting
3. Nuclear plant explosion
4. High Voltage Current Transmission
5. Gas pipe, Oil pipe, Petroleum plant explosion
6. Falling of Large structures such as Buildings, Bridges, Rail Track

3. Role of Space Technology; Through Remote sensing and GIS we can
handle such Disasters by applying 4 ‘T’ i.e. Tips, Trick, Technique, Tools
1. “Tips” are generally the hints of available National and International practices of
data acquisition (spatial or attribute) on population living on that particular area,
data feasibility analysis/access/administration, abstraction on Rescue, Recovery
and Reconstruction
2. “Trick” is the short phenomenal brain application of encountering and facing the
problems like Natural Disasters i.e. Early Warning Systems and Safe alternate
settlement Area or open Space that can be guided by
3. “Technique” is the analogue/analytical method that we use i.e. mapping and
visualization through available topographical map, topographical database, satellite
imageries, web map and web feature servers and so on
4. “Tools” is the software based final arms and weapon that is made from
programming language, structures and commands of the core missions and rescue
operation e.g. Network Analysis (Optimal path finding ,Path tracing/tracking
,Spatial Interaction ,Distance Matrix Calculation and so on )
These all facilities are guided and provided by newly born Remote Sensing and
GIS technology via /through 4 ‘M’ s
1. Measurement ; It consist Area ,Volume ,Density ,Statics, Distance Matrix
Calculation ,Probability ,Magnitude and Frequency determination of Affected
or Potential Hazard Area
2. Monitoring ; Frequent update and evaluation of time series data regarding
change detection on quantity i.e. (for water volume ,for hurricane and cyclone
speed ),spectral signature of satellite imageries, hot spot analysis for thermal
activity for forest fires ,flow direction for hydrological nature of water ,spread
computation on Viral germs/lethal diseases ,Water paths and Traffic
Administration etc.
3. Modelling ;It is a planned work flow of specific solution oriented decision
support tool aided and added by programmer or software developer e.g.
Hydrological Modelling ,Flood Risk Modelling
4. Mapping ; Disseminative Displaytory Informative and Communicative
Positional Information based geographical visualization of Details location and
its phenomenon.

4. Objective of Space Technology in Disaster;
1) Early warning system and disaster preparedness
2) Search and rescue of disaster survivors
3) Findings out Ultimate safe settlement area
4) Route finding
5) Alternate places for rescue operation
6) Energy and Power supply to victims
7) Food supply ,storage, and safety managements
8) Water purification and treatment
9) Medicine and healthcare for Disaster victim
10) Sanitation and Waste Management in Disaster
11) Disaster Resistant Housing and Construction
12) High Military Security and Diplomatic intelligence for counter Country
Attacks and Illegal entry of criminal groups/terrorists and Citizens
Property Safety

5. Remote Sensing (RS)
&
Geographical
Information System
(GIS)
Disaster
Disaster
Prepare
dness
Disaster
Mitigation
Reconstruction
Standards
Production
Service
Figure: Schematic Descriptions, Capability and Potential of
Remote Sensing & GIS

6. Capability and Potential of RS /GIS Before, During and After Disaster;
1) Disaster ;
 Disaster information ,Quick Processing & Analysis
 Disaster Mapping
 Scenario simulation ,Disaster Trend fore casting
 Emergency Response decision support tool
2) Disaster Relief ;
 Information integration and Analysis
 Disaster monitoring
 Dynamic Disaster loss assessment
3) Recovery ;
 Disaster Relief Decision Making support tool
4) Reconstruction ;
 Requires Assessment e.g. PDNA
 Disaster loss information
 Monitoring of Reconstruction and Recovery
5) Disaster Mitigation ;
 Disaster Characteristic Factor Monitoring
 Disaster Reduction Planning
 Vulnerability ,Hazard, Risk Information & Assessment
6) Disaster Preparedness ;
 Disaster Early Warning System
 Hazard Monitoring
 DBS(Database) construction
 Logistic Preparation for Disaster relief