A Safer Future: Reducing the Impacts of Natural Disasters with Spatial Technologies

Position Magazine issue 121 Iconyx

Prior to the use of GPS / GIS for mapping field observations, emergency response was based on local knowledge of the volunteers, historic events, and intuition. Forecasting natural disasters were not as accurate as compared to the present time where live data is readily available.  The ability to capture spatial intelligence from the field has greatly enhanced our fact-based forecasts to improve coordination and prevent loss of life and property where ever possible.

To manage and coordinate multiple agencies, the establishment of spatial data infrastructure (SDIs) using GIS mobile technologies enables data from various sources to be shared to visualisation platforms, making it easy to share with different stakeholders for disaster and disease management.

SDIs are now the backbone supporting the new concept of Spatial Digital Twins. Digital Twins are also used to support Common Operating Pictures or COPs to enable web-based communication, planning, and collaboration through the timely dissemination of critical information during emergencies. Field data captured for Prevention and Response is critical, but what happens after the event? What is community resilience and how does spatial data help?

Lyn Terrett recently presented a paper at the REROC Mapped Out conference on Pre and Post Disaster Mapping sharing insights into the importance of spatial data sharing for Disaster Recovery, Relief, and Resilience to empower the local communities.

Follow these links to download a FREE eBook that helps to address how Asset data collection, road dilapidation surveys, disaster management, biosecurity, and weed mapping solutions as developed by RapidMap contribute spatial data, to increase the quality of spatial digital twins to also support community resilience. 

During your Christmas break, read the full article in Position Magazine entitled “Spatial technologies for disaster risk response” by Lyn Terrett. Then feel free to discover more about Spatial data for land management and risk mitigation by booking an online meeting here to be better prepared for 2023.