Geoinformation for Disaster and Risk Management - ISPRS

Preface
Each year, disasters arising from storms, floods, volcanoes and
earthquakes cause thousands of deaths and tremendous damage to
property around the world, displacing tens of thousands of people from
their homes and destroying their livelihoods. Developing countries and
poor communities are especially vulnerable. Many of the deaths and
property losses could be prevented if better information were available
on the exposed populations and assets, the environmental factors in
disaster risk, and the patterns and behaviour of particular hazards.
Increasingly, this information is becoming available with the help of
technologies such as meteorological and earth observation satellites,
communication satellites and satellite-based positioning technologies,
coupled with hazard modelling and analysis, and geographical
information systems (GIS). When integrated into a disaster risk reduction
approach, and connected to national and community risk management
systems, these technologies offer considerable potential to reduce losses
to life and property. To do his requires a solid base of political support,
laws and regulations, institutional responsibility, and trained people.
Early warning systems should be established and supported as a matter
of policy. Preparedness to respond should be engrained in society.
The primary aim of this booklet is to explain to governments, decision
makers and disaster professionals the potential uses of geoinformation
technologies for reducing disaster risks and losses, based on the
knowledge and experience of experts in these fields. In July 2009, the
Joint Board of Geospatial Information Societies and UN-SPIDER* jointly
invited individuals and groups to contribute articles for the preparation
of the booklet, describing their research work and experiences on the
application of geospatial technologies as a contribution to a decision
support forum. The Booklet covers all regions of the world and all
aspects of disaster risk and its management. We commend this booklet to
you in the hope that improved application of geospatial information will
support better understanding and action to reduce the number and
impact of disasters in future.
Margareta Wahlström
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
for Disaster Risk Reduction
* About UN-SPIDER: In its resolution 61/110 of 14 December 2006 the United Nations General
Assembly agreed to establish the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster
Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), which has as its mission statement: "Ensure that
all countries and international and regional organizations have access to and develop the capacity to
use all types of space-based information to support the full disaster management cycle". The UN-
SPIDER program is achieving its aims by being a gateway to space information for disaster
management support, by serving as a bridge to connect the disaster management and space
communities and by being a facilitator of capacity-building and institutional strengthening, in
particular for developing countries.
UN-SPIDER is being implemented as an open network of providers of space-based solutions to support
disaster management activities. Besides Vienna (where UN-OOSA is located), the program also has an
office in Bonn, Germany and will have an office in Beijing, China. Additionally, a network of Regional
Support Offices multiplies the work of UN-SPIDER in the respective regions.
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