Ralph Kiefl

Airborne near-real-time monitoring of assembly and parking areas in case of large-scale public events and natural disasters

A critical requirement for an effective and coordinated response by public entities tasked with management, security, and relief during large-scale public events or natural disasters is the availability of current situational information. However, today there is a lack of comprehensive operational systems allowing a near-real-time (NRT) collection, visualization, and provision of situational information for larger areas. In this study a methodological framework is proposed, which allows an NRT extraction and visualization of situational information based on aerial image acquisition. The framework combines digital image analysis using a generic supervised information extraction approach based on statistical modeling with a downstream web-based visualization component realized through an automatic update of web services. Even though being applicable for different scenarios, the workflow will be demonstrated for the specific use-case of a NRT monitoring of open spaces including assembly and parking areas. Compared to other approaches, image analysis results indicate a high robustness and a low demand for computational power sources (7 seconds per image). Due to a high degree of automation, the proposed workflow contributes to a NRT ‘end-to-end’ monitoring system, which was developed within the VABENE (German acronym for ‘traffic management under large-scale public events and disaster conditions’) project covering all parts from the acquisition of raw aerial imagery to the dissemination of information products to end-users.

Experience and Perspective of Providing Satellite Based Crisis Information, Emergency Mapping & Disaster Monitoring Information to Decision Makers and Relief Workers

Recognizing an increasing demand for up-to-date and precise information on disaster and crisis situations the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of DLR has set up a dedicated interface for linking the available and comprehensive remote sensing and analysis capacities with national and international civil protection, humanitarian relief actors and political decision makers. This so called “Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information” (ZKI) is engaged in the acquisition, analysis and provision of satellite based information products on natural disasters, humanitarian crisis situation, and civil security. Besides response and assessment activities, DFDZKI also focuses on the provision of geoinformation for medium term rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention activities. DFD-ZKI operates in national, European and international contexts, closely networking with public authorities (civil security), non-governmental organizations (humanitarian relief organizations), satellite operators and other space agencies. ZKI supports the “International Charter on Space and Major Disasters”, which is a major cooperative activity among international space agencies in the context of natural and man-made disasters.

Rapid Mapping and Damage Assessment

This chapter covers two main topics. The first deals with rapid mapping of damages for generating an overview, while the second deals with detailed assessment of damages. For the topic rapid mapping, fast procedures and methods for obtaining overview maps and information from satellite imagery are the main focus. For the second topic, production of accurate and detailed information from satellite imagery is more of an issue. The chapter is based on the activities of the various partners that have contributed to the GMOSS work package handling this subject. These activities comprise both security issues as well as natural disasters