Use Case Description
Disasters caused by natural hazards are increasing in frequency and severity and their impacts on human lives, infrastructures and the economy are becoming extremely important, given that urbanization continues to increase the amount of people exposed to these hazards.
As highlighted in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030, hazards encompass a variety of origins including biological (organic), environmental (chemical, natural, and biological), geological or geophysical (derived from internal earth processes), hydrometeorological (atmospheric, hydrological, or oceanographic), and technological (stemming from technical or industrial conditions) processes. Geo-information derived from Earth Observation (EO) satellite data and modelling addresses many of the priorities outlined by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. This includes (i) understanding disaster risks in their multi-faceted forms, (ii) strengthening disaster risk governance to manage the hazards, (iii) investing in disaster reduction strategies for bolstering resilience, and (iv) enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response.
Vulnerability is a crucial aspect that defines the characteristics and conditions of an asset, by describing the possible loss / damage according to the hazard impact intensity. It serves as a fundamental component of risk assessment, necessitating a comprehensive understanding to develop effective risk reduction strategies. When evaluating vulnerability, three key concepts come into play: damage loss functions, lack of coping capacities, and lack of adaptive capacities. These components typically rely on socio-economic and environmental parameters derived from non-Earth Observation (non-EO) data, such as national statistics including Gross Domestic Product (GDP), public health expenditure, gender-related factors, and the presence of protected areas. Earth Observation data enhances the representation of dynamic vulnerability aspects and aids in the detection of changes.
