Facing Disasters with Geo-Information and Earth Observation-The UNU-ITC Programme for Disaster Geo-Information Management

Abstract

Disaster management has over the past couple of years experienced a major paradigm shift from hazard assessment that causes disasters once they have occurred to mitigating the effects of hazards by means of disaster risk assessment. Geo-information science particularly earth observation-based information plays an important role in all phases of disaster management. To become sustainable, however, disaster management requires: a) a proper institutional setting, b) appropriate geo-information and communication technology and c) comprehensive capacity building component constituting three interlinked cornerstones. The School for Disaster Geo-Information Management at ITC implements such a comprehensive capacity building programme in the framework of a joint United Nations University-ITC effort, comprising education and training, research and advisory services.