The Role of GIS in Disaster Response and Relief Efforts
Since its development, GIS has rapidly expanded beyond its initial applications in geography,
and has become an integral part of many aspects of our lives. Ranging from agricultural uses, to
city planning, to forestry, the applications of GIS are virtually endless. The use of GIS in the
modelling of natural disasters is a rapidly expanding area of work and study worldwide. The
tracking and modelling of hurricanes, wildfires, floods, landslides and other natural disasters has
become a vital part of the efforts made by governments and others who hope to reduce the
number of people affected by these events, and a means to more effectively aid those who have
been impacted.
One such application is the use of GIS and remote sensing to track and model the spread of
wildfires. Data is collected from aerial photos or satellite imagery, and a GIS is used to locate
areas in most need of fire-fighting efforts. Satellite images are arguably more useful because
there is the potential for thermal imagery, and because they do not require a plane to be flown in
dangerous conditions, such as high wind. Specifically, GIS has been used by American
researchers to create a system of “Evacuation Trigger Points” which are used to determine if and
when communities should be evacuated. These points, calculated using information on
topography, wind, fuel, and the estimated time for evacuation from a particular area, act as a
buffer zone around communities, which “trigger” an evacuation notice once the fire reaches
them. (Cova, Dennison, & Kim, 2005) Another example of a GIS-based fire monitoring system
is the one provided by ESRI in the disaster response section of their website (Wildfire Public
Information Map, 2012).The number, location and perimeter of fires burning in the USA are
continuously updated, as well as information on wind conditions, precipitation and the potential
for spread or new fires. This free service is very useful to the public who wish to obtain
information about the risk of wildfires in their region.
Another application of GIS is the use of the “digital city” to address the risk potential of natural
disasters. The “digital city” refers to the collection and analysis of geographic and risk data for
urban areas, giving researchers and city officials an opportunity to calculate these risks before
disaster strikes (Price & Vojinovic, 2008). Researchers in the Netherlands have used the digital
city concept as a means to assess the risk of flooding (both natural and human-caused) in their
cities. These complex digital models are used to run flood scenarios and their consequences, as
well simulating the results of attempts to mitigate the damage. The creation of this data in
advance makes the distribution of risk information to the general public simpler and more
accessible, and creates a more efficient means of applying control mechanisms. And, because
researchers and officials have information on how flooding might occur, they are better able to
determine where people might be affected and can efficiently send aid. (Price & Vojinovic,
2008)
One final example of GIS being used in disaster response is the development of a typhoon early
warning system in Taiwan. SATIS, the Safe Taiwan Information System, developed by the
National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR), is based upon a WEBGIS framework. The goals of this system are to monitor real time weather and rainfall data,
analyze potential outcomes, demonstrate and present these risk factors to governing bodies so
that they can make informed decisions regarding relief efforts, and the evaluation of damage so
that recovery can be as efficient as possible and so preventative actions can be taken for the
future (Su, Hsu, Wu, Lin, & Chou, 2010). This tool is has been used with some success, however
it is weakened by the fact that many organizations have their own warning systems and are
reluctant to unite them into this main system.
These examples highlight the many roles that GIS can play in the determination of risks
associated with many types of natural disasters. As time goes on, the integration of better remote
sensing systems with ever improving modeling capabilities and the unification of separate
response systems into larger and more coordinated efforts will help to make our world a safer
place to live.
Bibliography
Cova, T. J., Dennison, P. E., & Kim, T. H. (2005). Setting Wildfire Evacuation Trigger Points
Using Fire Spread Modelling and GIS. Transactions in GIS, 9(4): 603-617.
Price, R., & Vojinovic, Z. ( 2008). Urban flood disaster management. Urban Water Journal, 5:3,
259-276.
Su, W.-R., Hsu, P.-H., Wu, S.-Y., Lin, F.-T., & Chou, H.-C. (2010). The Development of Safe
Taiwan Information System (SATIS) for Typhoon Early Warning in Taiwan. Journal of
Systemics, Cybernetics & Informatics, 8:4, 48-52.
Wildfire Public Information Map. (2012, October 24). Retrieved from Esri: Understanding Our
World: http://www.esri.com/services/disaster-response/wildlandfire/latest-news-map