Applications of Remote Sensing to Earthquake Emergency Response

摘要

Earthquakes are recurring and unpredictable natural hazards which usually causing damages to life and property. After a devastating earthquake, quick emergency response is needed to assess the damages in affected areas and work out an effective rescue plan. The use of satellite and airborne remote sensing techniques can play a vital role in the earthquake emergency response at early stage and later earthquake damage assessment. This paper presents the applications of remote sensing imagery and GIS data to earthquake disaster management, and a management flowchart was demonstrated. Remote sensing imageries acquired immediately after the earthquake provided the damage information of building structures, geological disasters and transport routes, which were useful to find the shortest possible routes to reach the affected people as soon as possible.