Geographic information systems (GIS) play a vital role in disaster risk assessment and management. They support planning, response and recovery efforts and improve situational awareness. Unplanned population growth and rapid urbanization combined with extreme climatic events are some of the challenges that increase the vulnerability of a community. To address these challenges there is need to create awareness among disaster managers regarding the usefulness of GIS in disaster risk management.
The focus of the course will be on the use of data during pre- and post- disaster management such as in early warning systems and hazard, vulnerability, risk and damage assessments as well as in the design of risk reduction measures.
Objectives of the course
Describe and utilize spatial data, geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing in disaster risk assessment and management
Utilize existing sources of historical disaster information
Apply GIS/remote sensing in hazard, vulnerability, and risk assessment
Utilize risk information in emergency preparedness planning
Visualize hazard and risk information
Apply GIS/remote sensing to post-disaster damage assessment
Course content
Basic concepts and terminologies of disaster management
Basic concepts of geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing
Introduction to spatial information
Handling spatial information (introduction to ArcGIS)
The use of satellite imagery for disaster relief and recovery
Impact analysis and preliminary damage assessment
Building damage assessment
Hazard assessment
Elements at risk and vulnerability assessment
Types and methods of risk assessment, risk evaluation, cost and benefit analysis
Risk evaluation
Risk information and spatial planning
Visualization of risk information
Requirements
Proficiency in English language
Meet admission criteria
Methodology
Training will be interactive through presentations, group work, practical exercises and web based tutorials.
Participants working or who will be working in the organizations where spatial information is used or considered to be used for the purpose of disaster risk management, disaster management, or disaster risk reduction.
