How GIS is Used to Solve Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts
How Gis is Used to Solve Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts
GIS in Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts
GIS can be used to solve disaster before it happens or make the impact of such disaster minimal. A few analysis needs to be carried out on whatever disaster might be affecting a particular area, after such analysis is carried out a few maps are then made to show the results of such analysis.
Disaster Management is done by following the steps:
- Planning and Analysis
- Situational Awareness
- Data Management
- Field Operations
Important objectives of GIS database generation are,
Disaster managers from different states, cities and village levels use GIS databases for disaster planning.
- Preparedness and planning of disasters
- Forecasting and early warning of a disastrous event
- For relief management, rescue operations
GIS database includes the following information which is beneficial in disaster management.
- Hazard mapping for flood plains and fault lines, fire hazards, and more.
- Tracking the location and supply levels of support and rescue teams following an emergency event.
- Assigning where emergency headquarters (i.e police, fire, ambulance) should be located to be able to provide the quickest response time to the highest number of people.
- Identifying vulnerable residents in case of a disaster, in terms of age, income, and other insights
- Designing databases for populations, businesses, structures, schools, and more, which can be consulted in the case of an emergency
- Finding current evacuation routes that have been updated as a result of the disaster at hand.
- Preparation of base maps of different themes using satellite imageries
- Road and location maps are used for finding alternate routes, shelters, and locations
- Planning of evacuation and operation
- Using sensors on airplanes or satellites (remote sensing) to record events such as storms and to integrate that information into a geographic information system.
- Tracking terrorist attacks, sabotage, and other threats to national security using geospatial information technology.
- Identifying potentially vulnerable residents in case of a disaster, in terms of age, income, and other insights.
How GIS can be used to support Logistics Management
GIS allows the effective planning of routes and logistics decisions to be seen visually and projected on a map. The map assists in the route choice and scheduling selection process improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the routing and logistics planning.
GIS also helps logistics management in the following ways:
- Pre-planning
– Allocating resources
– Transportation routing and re-routing - Navigation
- Fleet Management
– GPS tracking
– Vehicle Finance - Cost Reduction
How GIS can be used to support Damage Assessment
GIS collects initial property damage or any sort of damage or impacts through intense analysis of data accumulated during a disaster outbreak or any catastrophic event.
Houses flooded by Hurricane Katrina with the city in the background, New Orleans, United States.
This solution provides the necessary authorities with what they need to start any form of rebuild necessary. Data gathered could include:
- Property damage
- Death toll
- Displaced citizens and many more.
