Disaster Management: Role of Remote Sensing and GIS Technology

Abstract

In the past few decades the world has faced many disasters. The occurrence of natural hazards depends upon unique characteristics of regions. Hazard examples include earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides, windstorms, drought, and forest fires etc. The main causes of increasing rate of disasters can be most probably related to climate change and an increase in a vulnerable population. Recently, India had faced two major disasters: First is flood and landslide in Uttarakhand in last year, second is recently Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). To reduce disaster losses, more and more efforts should be applied towards disaster-risk management, with a focus on hazard assessment, elements-at-risk mapping, and vulnerabilityandrisk assessment, all of which havean important spatial component. Disaster management encompasses a wide range of activities to recover normal life. Government at all levels (central, state, district and local) has primary responsibility for disaster management. Traditionally, the military, national disaster relief force (NDRF) and social workers (NGOs) has taken responsibility for helping hands to victims. In recent years, remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) technologies have played an important role at various phases of disaster management. Remote Sensing and GIS can play a very useful tool in compare to the conventional methods of disaster management. It can be successful only when detailed knowledge is obtained about the expected frequency, character and magnitude of hazard events in an area. In this article, the use of remote sensing and GIS technology has become an integrated, well-developed tool for disaster management. This has been done in collaboration with bodies such as the centre for astronomical, astrophysical and geophysical research for the monitoring of earthquakes, the forestry department for the management of the forest fires, and so on.