Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) for Earthquake Damage Assessment and Disaster Management

The occurrence of natural disasters is inevitable, no matter in which part of the world or at what instant of time they may occur. Among such disasters, earthquakes are an exception in that their time and place of happening cannot be foretold and measuring the extent of destruction caused by them is only possible in post-earthquake scenarios. Because of these reasons, an all-time vigilance and a concrete system of disaster management are needed for the concerned institutions and the people. For the past few years, satellite remote sensing (SRS) and geographical information system (GIS) have become an ever important matter of concern for personnel dealing with disaster management. This paper portrays the potential and accuracy of SRS techniques and use of GIS for assessment of damage caused by earthquakes and then using these technologies for devising suitable strategies to overcome the havoc played in the quake hit areas and to rehabilitate the affected populace