Nils Sparwasser

The Elbe flood

Text Adam Majorosi Contact Nils Sparwasser German Aerospace Center Muenchner Strasse 20 82234 Oberpfaffenhofen/Wessling, Germany +49.8153.281316 nils.sparwasser@dlr.de In August 2002, Europe experienced the worst flooding in more than a century. A particular weather situation led to extreme rainfall and floods that killed over 100 people and forced tens of thousands to leave their homes. For damage assessment and coordination purposes, disaster organizations needed fast access to up-to-date geo-data. Due to the extent of the disaster and the weather conditions, only satellites were able to provide the required images.

An interactive CD-ROM on remote sensing-a concept study

The techniques used in remote sensing to provide support for understanding the Earths environment are common sense in the scientific community, but are at times difficult to teach to people not in direct contact with remote sensing at universities and schools. Computer-assisted learning (CAL) offers a new, more efficient way to teach novices the backgrounds and the use of remote sensing data. The combination of simultaneous use of text, images, sound and video offers a more understandable presentation of the techniques used, without the well known constraints of conventional, linear and mono dimensional media. Further more, digital image processing methods and the effects of the steps applied can be shown on screen in real time based on a wide variety of examples and applications. The concept of the CD-ROM to be presented is aimed at higher education facilities like geography classes in high-schools and students at universities as well as potential remote sensing users in the administrative field. Furthermore the potential user community, not yet knowing very much about the benefits that remote sensing can provide them with for their work, can be directly addressed. The CD-ROM is not intended for use by professionals already dealing with remote sensing data, as their knowledge usually already goes beyond what a CD can cover, but it can also help these people in conveying their ideas and their knowledge to others. This approach requires an attractive, easy to understand interface which allows fast and direct access to the information contained on the CD. The inexperienced user will be guided through the CD based on a hypertext-structure. Through a specifically designed interface, the user will get from a very basic level, providing general information on remote-sensing, to more profound chapters which include detailed data. For the more advanced user free navigation through the information content is foreseen to make the CD also an encyclopedia on remote sensing. The prototype to be presented will only show the general concept developed as a skeleton to be filled with information in the next project phase. The part dealing with the physical basics of the electromagnetic field and remote sensing has already been developed to a further stage and will be shown in greater detail. Further measures to be taken will be discussed.