Use of GIS and Remote Sensing in Disaster Risk Management (GRSDM-1)
Course concludes

27 August – 7 September 2007
Bangkok 

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), in collaboration with The International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) Enschede The Netherlands and the Geoinformatics Center, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT-GIC) Bangkok Thailand organized the first newly developed regional course, Use of GIS and Remote Sensing in Disaster Risk Management (GRSDM-1) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand.  

The main purpose of the course was to enhance the capabilities of executive managers and technical staff involved in disaster risk management by providing them with understanding on the use of spatial information in disaster risk management. Participants acquired hands-on skills in application of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) in disaster risk management interventions, and learn to work with, aerial photographs, satellite images and digital maps that are the key to a better understanding of hazard, vulnerability and risk. This leads to better informed decision making, whether it is at the community, provincial, national, NGO, private sector enterprise or public sector institutions. 

21 participants from 16 different countries attended the course. The participants were from Canada, China, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, and Zambia.  

The main topics covered were as follows, 

Module 1: Hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment with GIS and RS

• Spatial data requirements in disaster management hazard, vulnerability and risk assessments (focusing on physical and socio-economic vulnerability, and multi-hazard risk assessment)
• Risk mapping and database generation
• Participatory GIS for community-based disaster risk management.

Module 2: Application of risk information and spatial data infrastructure

• Risk information in planning and disaster reduction using spatial multi-criteria analysis
• Spatial data availability, and identification of basic spatial data providers (e.g. DEMs, topodata, population data, etc), thematic spatial data providers (e.g. flood data, earthquake data etc) and spatial data users (e.g. NGO’s, government organizations, municipalities, etc),
• Spatial data infrastructure (data sharing, restrictions, metadata, clearing houses)

Module 3: Early warning systems and disaster monitoring

• Early warning systems for major hazards
• Community-based early warning systems use of GIS in disaster preparedness planning
• Remote sensing and image processing techniques for change detection
• Disaster monitoring using remote sensing techniques

Module 4: Damage assessment and data dissemination

• Damage assessment for recovery planning
• Multi sector loss estimation
• Generation of damage databases
• WebGIS and data visualization

For more information on the course, pls download the brochure

Prof. Dr. Krasae Chanawongse, Chairman, ADPC Board of Trustees awarded the certificates at the closing ceremony.  

ADPC will conduct the next course on GRSDM-2 during 12-23 May 2008 at Bangkok Thailand.
Some snapshots from the training programme:  

Opening Ceremony View>>

Participants during the Closing Ceremony

At the farewell Cruise dinner

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Falak Nawaz
Training Manager, Training Resources Group

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Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
P.O.Box 4 Klong Luang
Pathumthani 12120 Thailand
Tel: (66 2) 516 5900-10 Ext: 333,328.153
Fax: (66 2) 524 5360, 5366, 5382
Email: tedadpc@adpc.net