disaster management
techniques
Geospatial Techniques and Methods
S Sreekesh
here has b e e n
many fold increase
in the occurrence of
natural disasters and
extreme events and
related threat to life and property
in India. These disasters are caused
either by climatological events
such as cyclone, flood and drought
or by geological phenomena such
as earthquakes, volcanoes, and
landslides. The intensity and
duration of disasters vary over
space and time. The occurrences
and magnitudes of many natural
disasters are often unpredictable and
vary over time-space domains.
T
The development
of
telecommunication
technology using
satellites allow
transmission of
disaster warning
even to remote and
inaccessible areas
It is imperative to have a disaster
management plan prepared for such
events at any time. In order to be
prepared for any kind of the natural
disasters in an area it is essential to
understand the vulnerability of the
area to different kinds of disasters
and their possible magnitude.
This article discusses the ways in
which GIS and remote sensing
techniques can be employed for
disaster management.
Wide spread apathy exits
towards the natural hazards and
disasters till that time it occurs.
The national development is often
retarded or even brought to a stand
still as and when an extensive or
intensive natural disaster occurs.
All these have led to a resolution
(44/236 of December 22, 1989) in
the General Assembly of United
Nations to focus on issues related
to natural disaster reduction. The
disasters included under this are
earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis,
landslides, floods, storms, wildfires
and drought.
The geospatial technologies
have an important role in developing
strategies for disaster reduction as
well managing the disasters. It can
be broadly classified into remote
sensing based technologies and
Geographical Information System
(GIS). The remote sensing can
be either space or aerial based.
The author is Associate Professor, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi.
YOJANA March 2012
37