High Resolution Remote Sensing Images Based Catastrophe Assessment Method

Abstract

In recent years, there seems to be more and more occurrences of natural disasters happening around the world due to abnormal climate change. To deal with natural disasters, disaster assessment technology will provide technical support and help facilitate decision making for disaster relief, disaster prevention and reduction, post-disaster recovery and reconstruction (The six editing room of Press of China Standards, 2010). Airborne remote sensing and satellite remote sensing, which feature no time limitation, no geographical restriction, wide coverage and high accuracy, are widely used in disaster assessment scenario, because they can provide prompt and accurate information (Xie & Zhang, 2000). After several earthquakes happened around China (Xingtai, Haicheng, Tangshan, Longling, Datong) during 1970s and 1980s, China had widely implemented airborne remote sensing photography and seismic damage interpretation (Zhang, 1993). Remote sensing had also played an important role in disaster assessment of recent occurring disasters, including Wenchuan Earthquake, Yushu Earthquake, Zhouqu Debris flow and Yingjiang Earthquake (Chen et al., 2008; Shi et al., 2010). This chapter will mainly discuss the catastrophe assessment method and technical flow used by National Disaster Reduction Center of China (NDRCC) during Wenchuan Earthquake(2008), Yushu Earthquake(2010), Zhouqu Debris Flow(2010). Further discussion and advises are also given.