UN-SPIDER was invited to contribute to the regional training workshop on Coastal Hazard Assessment: Applications in Risk Assessment, Management and Mitigation. The regional workshop was conducted in Victoria, Seychelles between 7 and 11 March 2016 and it was organised by UNESCO-IOC, the Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre (IOTIC) and the Disaster Risk Management Office of the Seychelles. The regional workshop covered the topics of hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment; as well as mitigation measures, vulnerability reduction and disaster preparedness in case of tsunamis.
UN-SPIDER used the opportunity to showcase the use of space-based information gathered through satellite imagery and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to gather information on exposure of infrastructure and its combination with in-situ data to generate information regarding the vulnerability of different sectors of development. The workshop was also used to highlight the value of geographic information systems as tools that facilitate the combination of data regarding hazard, vulnerability and deficiencies in preparedness.
The regional training workshop targeted nearly 25 participants from 10 countries in the Indian Ocean which are exposed to tsunamis and is geared to strengthen the skills of government officers in methods to assess risks related to tsunamis and to identify measures to manage such risks. Trainers included staff from UNESCO-IOC, IOTIC, UN-SPIDER and the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka.
