Advances in Earth Observation Methods for Natural Disaster Response

Big data from space is providing massive spatio-temporal Earth Observation data to detect, monitor, and assess in almost real time geo-hazards threatening coastal areas especially those with high population density and infrastructure. However, the complexity of the problem demands new research approaches that effectively integrate Earth Sciences and Disaster Science to better 1) understand the complexity of processes underlying geo-hazards, 2) evaluate, model and forecast compound hazard risks, and 3) design and implement better disaster risk management policies and programs. In this talk I will present key achievements of Earth Observation methods in Earth and Disaster sciences and discuss common challenges and opportunities for rapid mapping and assessment of hazard risk in a range of applications. Example applications will also illustrate the compound effects of multi-hazards that are increasingly happening due to climate change. They include coastal flooding, land subsidence and earthquake damage mapping that may occur simultaneously or in sequence and constitute an increased threat especially to coastal communities