Mapping high risk areas with satellite and observational data for the purposes of disaster management is moving forward with a new report from multiple research institutes, according to an article in Geospatial World.
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) with support from the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), has put out a report called “Mapping Multiple Climate-related Hazards in South Asia”, which outlines different ways that risks and their impacts can be predicted for both people and agricultural systems.
Using historical and current observational and satellite data, algorithms are used to predict areas of risk from natural disasters, such as floods, drought and heat waves, according to Geospatial World. The results were overlaid with data from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)’s Human Development Index (HDI) to develop an idea of the country’s vulnerability. “For instance, it was deduced that countries such as Sri Lanka and Bhutan have a reasonably good capacity to cope with hazards, since they have higher HDI due to proper education, medical facilities and employment levels as compared to their neighbors,” wrote Giriraj Amarnath, Shehnab Sahin and Alok Sikka in Geospatial World. “On the other hand, countries such as Bangladesh exhibit a low HDI which in-turn affects its adaptive capacity, seen to be reduced when affected by climatic events.”
The IWMI has plans to further continue its research with the Water Risks and Disaster Mitigation Tool for rural communities.
Source:
https://www.geospatialworld.net/article/impact-of-mapping-high-risk-areas-on-disaster-management/
