Abstract
Tsunami Mapping: the UN and the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters" Track: Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Affairs Author(s): Alain Retiere Founded in 2000 by the European, French, and Canadian space agencies (ESA, CNES, CSA) the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters" provides a unified system of space data acquisition and delivery for the emergency analysis of natural or man-made disasters. Immediately following the Indian Ocean Tsunami, UNOSAT, established in 2001, requested the activation of the charter on Sumatra, Maldives, Thailand and Nicobar to collect satellite imagery on behalf of UN and humanitarian relief agencies working in the field. Acting as a coordinating as well as mapping center, UNOSAT was able to secure the production, analysis and delivery of more than 250 maps at different scales covering different affected areas. This entailed an unprecedented level of cooperation between UN and non UN humanitarian organisations, public and private GIS entities and space agencies. Additionally UNOSAT, in cooperation with its hosting partner CERN, developed an imagery bank web server with a total of 650 satellite scenes, provided for the benefit of all the humanitarian community involved in assisting populations and local authorities in sustainable recovery of the affected regions. Alain Retiere UNOSAT 7-9 Chemin de Balexexert 1219 Chatelaine CH Phone: 909-793-2853 E-mail: Alain.Retiere@cern.ch |
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