Geo-spatial information and technologies in support of EU crisis management

Abstract

This paper discusses the challenges in operational crisis management and describes the role of information and geo-spatial technologies in meeting those challenges. The paper discusses two main sources of data, Web and very high resolution (VHR) earth observation sensors, in terms of relevance to crisis management and techniques for information extraction and analysis. Although research in information text extraction and analysis is more advanced than in information image extraction and analysis, further research is required in both these fields to take advantage of the increasing complexity but richness of open source and VHR satellite data. The paper also discusses the use of Web, GIS and Digital Earth technologies in facilitating collaborative work, decision-making and information sharing in crisis management. Despite exciting and relevant advances in information sources, information extraction and analysis methods, and collaborative crisis technologies, the main challenge remains to convince stakeholders in operational crisis management that the adoption of these technologies will lead to enhanced and effective crisis management.