Rapid damage mapping using post-earthquake satellite images

Abstract

The ongoing research into the application of the high-resolution optical satellite images for post-earthquake building damage assessment at the Martin Centre, University of Cambridge, aims to develop methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative, that enables the rapid creation of a damage map that can visualize the distribution of damaged buildings to an accuracy suitable to support early emergency and rescue planning. After experimenting with various qualitative and quantitative methods, a final assessment will be carried out in an attempt to define the best method (or combination of methods) for creating a post-earthquake damage map using optical high-resolution satellite images to support post-disaster recovery. During the process of this study, it has become clear that pre-earthquake satellite images may not always be available. Therefore the intention here is to develop a damage assessment method that only uses a post-earthquake image. The qualitative and quantitative methods will be introduced together with some results to date derived using both types of methods, comparison of the results with ground truth data and some suggestions for the application of these damage maps.