The new curriculum of GIS4DRM course has been re-designed jointly by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente, the Netherlands (ITC), and the United Nations Institute for Training and Researchs Operational Satellite Applications Program (UNITAR-UNOSAT), with its main aim to provide an overview of the use of spatial information in Disaster Risk Management. The course not only reveals what spatial data is and how it is collected, but also emphasize on the use of such spatial data during pre- and post-disaster management such as during early warning, hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment, damage assessment, as well as in the design of risk reduction measures. The course ultimately hopes that scientific advancement can be utilized for better disaster risk reduction practices.

Rapid population growth and urbanization combined with extreme climatic events are causing a rapid increase in vulnerability of communities exposed to hazardous events. As a result, disasters are increasingly taking heavy toll of life and property. Unplanned growth both in urban and non-urban areas calls for an adequate preparation to reduce the impact of disasters. There is a great need to utilize disaster risk information in planning for effective coping mechanisms of disaster risk reduction.

Disaster risk information is spatial in nature and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play an important role in disaster risk assessment and management. For this, there is a significant need to create awareness among the disaster management professionals regarding the importance of GIS usage.

The course is extended over 10 workdays structured around the following modules:

• Core/Basic Information (about disaster risk management, GIS and spatial information)
• Post-Disaster Impact and Damage Analysis
• Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment
• Risk Information for Risk Reduction Planning
• Mini-Projects

The course is currently offered in English only. All teaching and reference materials are in English. Participants must be fully conversant in English.

Upon completion of the course, the participants will be able to:

• Describe and utilize spatial data, GIS and remote sensing in disaster risk assessment and management
• Utilize existing sources of historical disaster information and elements at risk data
• Apply GIS/remote sensing in hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment
• Employ risk information in emergency preparedness planning
• Visualize hazard and risk information
• Apply GIS/remote sensing to post-disaster damage assessment.

Drawing upon the rich repository of knowledge and experience in the application of GIS in disaster risk management of ADPC, AIT, ITC, UNITAR-UNOSAT, and other partner organizations, the course is primarily designed to promote the understanding of the importance of data and outputs of GIS processed application in the disaster management and disaster risk reduction works. The course has a mixture of adult learning methodologies such as interactive lectures, discussion sessions and group exercises. A mini-project will additionally allow participants to practice GIS application in their own situation of selected hazard type and disaster management phase. Participants can bring their own dataset to the practice in the course, if they have any.

The course is open to all participants who are working or 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. There is no prerequisite GIS knowledge for participant who is interested in this course.

The course welcome participants from all geographic areas, however the class size is limited to 30 persons. ADPC accepts nomination on a first come, first served basis provided the applicant meets the course requirement.

The GIS4DRM will be facilitated by internationally experienced GIS practitioners and experts from ADPC, AIT, ITC, UNITAR-UNOSAT, and other partner organizations.

English.

Package A with accommodation USS3,175
Package B without accommodation US$2,275

The standard course fee of US$3,175 covers the course tuition, training materials, accommodation with breakfast, meeting package, and study visits. Participants will be responsible for their own travel expenses and arrangements, airport transfers, visa application, lunch and dinners, health/accident insurance, and other personal expenses.

Participant who wish to seek own accommodation can choose an alternative course fee package B of US$2,275

Registration
Interested persons can apply as individuals although preference will be given to those sponsored by the organizations. The application can be submitted online at http://www.adpc.net/tsu/sign-in.asp.

For offline application, the completely filled application form should be submitted ADPC through email, fax or postal mail. The application form is available for download above. Pre-course information will be sent participants once they are accepted to the course.

Payment
If you are selected to attend the course, the payment should be transferred to ADPC account through bank or International Demand Draft (DD) no later than 28th September 2014. Otherwise, your participation will be cancelled. Please note that personal checks are not accepted as a form of payment.

Cancellation
If you are unable to attend, a substitute applicant is welcome to attend in your place, provided the participation criteria described above have been met. Cancellation of attendance should be notified at least 3 weeks prior to course commencement; in which case, a full refund less 15% of course fee for banking charges and administrative costs will be made. No refunds are available for cancellation within 3 weeks prior to course commencement.

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
Training Services Department (TSD)
979/66-70, 24th Floor SM Tower
Paholyothin Road, Samsen Nai
Phayathai Bangkok, 10400
Tel: +66 (02) 298 0681-92
Cell Phone: +66 87 697 7535
Fax: +66 (02) 298 0012-13
Skype ID: ADPC_Training
Email: tsu@adpc.net
URL: www.adpc.net