Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for Tsunami Warning System

By Christopher Mehl | Thu, 27 Jan 2011 - 18:31
Thailand

 

Tsunami occurred on December 26th, 2004 and caused heavy losses of lives and properties along the western coast of Thailand, especially in the six provinces along the Andaman Sea. In order to prepare for such unpredictable natural disaster, Tsunami Warning System Committee agreed to establish tsunami warning towers in the six provinces along the Andaman coastline as the first priority. GISTDA utilized LANDSAT and IKONOS satellite images along with GIS to locate the most suitable sites for tower installation. Factors that were taken into consideration in locating the sites include the risk of the area for tsunami, effectiveness of tower working range and the towers must not block the good view of scenery. The Committee then selected the sites and has established three tsunami-warning towers in Phuket, which have been in operation since April 2005. Each is located 3 km apart from each other and can broadcast within 1.5 km range. In summary, satellite images are extremely useful and beneficial to tsunami warning management in term of accuracy, quality, up-to-dated-ness, timely availability and cost effectiveness.

K. Koedkurang, P. Phetprayoon, P. Aphaphant (2005): Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for Tsunami Warning System. Proceedings of 26th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing.

Kanjana Koedkurang
Pakorn Phetprayoon
Pakorn Aphaphant