Abstract
Deploying GIS to Support Tsunami Relief and Development Track: Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Affairs Author(s): Glenn Brooks GIS and Remote Sensing technologies provide critical Geospatial information about disaster impact to emergency relief workers and long term development programs. Experiences in Tsunami reconstruction in South Asia show that GIS information management must be organized as a deliberate process, rather than an afterthought. Applying Geospatial technologies during disaster relief operations can greatly improve timeliness, effectiveness and delivery of relief aid, if proper information can be made available to field personnel. However, prior investment in funding, spatial infrastructure and organization are required to deliver timely service. Lessons learned in South Asia indicate that NGO and UN agencies are not organized or funded to provide district level, GIS information management leadership or coordination. A sustainable GIS data center organization, deploying mobile GIS/GPS data collection field teams, is needed to inform emergency response and transition to long term recovery. Glenn Brooks Mercy Corps GIS Response Team 18306 186th PL NE Woodinville , WA 98072 US Phone: 206-790-8711 E-mail: brooks.glenn@comcast.net |
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