AN APPLICATION OF COMMUNITY REMOTE SENSING/GIS: THE MYANMAR CYCLONE AND GISCorps RESPONSE

Community remote sensing and GIS is a rapidly evolving capability that holds much promise for a variety of applications and interests. One area of much potential is the domain of disaster response. One of the key issues in the application of geomatics technologies in disaster response is the time needed to organize and conduct such work, when hours literally mean the difference between life and death.

The GISCorps, a volunteer activity under the auspices of URISA, provides trained and professional geospatial analysts on a volunteer basis for a variety of needs, including disaster response. Http://www.giscorps.org

In May of 2002, Cyclone Nargis made landfall in Myanmar (Burma) and created the deadliest natural disaster in the country’s history. The UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Program contacted the GISCorps to request assistance. A group of volunteer analysts conducted both pre and post disaster analysis remotely around the world, and the results were provided to the UN for use in the disaster response.

This paper will present the work conducted, lessons learned, and future directions that community remote sensing and GIS programs can play in rapid disaster response work. This will include advantages and problems associated with this approach.