3. Floods
3.1. Data Analytics and Machine Learning for Floods
Machine learning and data analytics techniques can be incorporated into flood disaster management systems to improve flood forecasting, risk assessment, and response planning. These techniques can analyze large amounts of historical and real-time data, such as rainfall patterns, river levels, and meteorological conditions, to identify patterns, trends, and potential flood events. Machine learning algorithms can acquire knowledge from historical data to improve the accuracy of flood forecasting and facilitate proactive decision-making. Additionally, data analytics can be used to detect vulnerable populations, improve evacuation routes, and distribute resources effectively during flood events.
3.2. Geographical Information System and Spatial Data Management
By combining and analyzing spatial data related to flooding, the geographical information system (GIS) plays a significant role in flood disaster management systems. GIS facilitates the creation of accurate flood hazard maps by combining elevation models, hydrological data, and land use information, helping to identify flood-prone areas, infrastructure at risk, and high-risk zones. In addition, GIS facilitates spatial analysis and modeling in order to simulate flood scenarios, evaluate various flood management strategies, and support decision-making processes. GIS can help with real-time tracking and visualization of flood events, which makes it easier to respond quickly and use resources well.
3.3. Model-Driven Engineering
The model-driven approach or Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) is a systematic method that employs models to design, analyze, and simulate complex systems, including flood disaster management systems. Models that depict many components of the flood management procedure, such as flood forecasting, risk assessment, and emergency response planning, can be created using MDE. These models allow stakeholders to comprehend system behavior, evaluate various strategies, and maximize resource allocation. MDE facilitates the integration of various system components, promotes interoperability, and facilitates collaborative stakeholder decision-making.
3.4. Sensors Network and Internet of Things
Both sensor networks and IoT have the capability of real-time data collecting as well as monitoring for flood disaster management systems. By deploying sensors in flood-prone areas, such as riverbanks or municipal drainage systems, continuous data can be acquired on flood levels, the extent of rainfall, and infrastructural states. IoT and sensor networks facilitate the early detection of flood events, aid in the evaluation of flood impact, and provide vital data for decision-making. The data from these networks can be combined with data from other systems such as GIS to track and manage floods more completely.
3.5. Big Data Analysis and Cloud Computing
This analysis method provides adaptable and effective approaches for handling and processing the substantial amounts of data linked to floods. Cloud-based platforms can store and process data from a variety of sources, including sensor networks, satellite imagery, and historical records. Data mining, pattern identification, and predictive modeling can yield important insights from these data. Real-time data processing, stakeholder cooperation, and the creation of data-driven decision support systems for flood catastrophe management are made possible by cloud computing and large-scale data analysis. By utilizing historical data, these technologies can assist in enhancing flood forecasts and planning for resiliency.
Data analytics and machine learning, GIS, MDE, sensor networks and IoT, and big data analysis and cloud computing are the major areas that the existing literature on flood prediction and management has focused upon.
3.6. Google Earth Engine
Google Earth Engine is a cloud-based platform developed by Google that provides a powerful and scalable environment for analyzing and processing geospatial data from satellite imagery and other Earth observation sources. It was launched in 2010, and is primarily used for conducting large-scale geospatial analysis, monitoring environmental changes, and supporting scientific research related to Earth sciences.
Google Earth Engine hosts an extensive archive of satellite imagery and geospatial datasets, including Landsat, Sentinel-2, MODIS, and others, dating back several decades. The platform allows users to access and analyze this vast collection of data using Google’s computing infrastructure, which includes thousands of servers, enabling quick and efficient processing of large-scale datasets.
4. Applications Based on Remote Sensing for Disasters
4.1. Wildfires
Wildfires, like other disasters, pose threats to life and property; moreover, they contribute to carbon emissions. Remote sensing data can prove valuable in fire detection, monitoring, modeling, and burnt area mapping. Satellite sensors with high temporal resolution, such as GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) and SEVIRI (approximately 30 min), have been utilized for fire monitoring [55]. Sensors with thermal and infrared capabilities, such as MODIS and AVHRR, can be employed as well. Burnt area mapping is accomplished through a multi-temporal comparison of NDVI using visible and near-infrared sensors [55,56].
4.2. Earthquakes
Earthquakes are natural disasters associated with earth movements, while landslides result from mass movements. Predicting earthquakes and volcanic eruptions remains challenging, limiting earthquake disaster management to preparedness and relief. Remote sensing has proven highly valuable across all phases of volcanic eruption disaster management, while its usefulness for earthquakes and landslides is somewhat limited [58]. Tralli et al. [59] suggested that high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) such as InSAR and LIDAR combined with in situ data and imaging spectroscopy, e.g., ASTER, MODIS, and Hyperion, can aid in assessing and monitoring volcanic and landslide hazards. Sensors such as ASTER can be utilized to monitor earthquake-induced landslide dams for hazard mitigation in case of dam breach [60]. Satellite remote sensing imagery was successfully employed for deployment, data collection, and dissemination during disaster management operations following the Haiti earthquake [61].
4.3. Floods
Wildfires, like other disasters, pose threats to life and property; moreover, they contribute to carbon emissions. Remote sensing data can prove valuable in fire detection, monitoring, modeling, and burnt area mapping. Satellite sensors with high temporal resolution, such as GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) and SEVIRI (approximately 30 min), have been utilized for fire monitoring [24]. Sensors with thermal and infrared capabilities, such as MODIS and AVHRR, can be employed as well. Burnt area mapping is accomplished through a multi-temporal comparison of NDVI using visible and near-infrared sensors [24][25].
4.2. Earthquakes
Earthquakes are natural disasters associated with earth movements, while landslides result from mass movements. Predicting earthquakes and volcanic eruptions remains challenging, limiting earthquake disaster management to preparedness and relief. Remote sensing has proven highly valuable across all phases of volcanic eruption disaster management, while its usefulness for earthquakes and landslides is somewhat limited [26]. Tralli et al. [27] suggested that high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) such as InSAR and LIDAR combined with in situ data and imaging spectroscopy, e.g., ASTER, MODIS, and Hyperion, can aid in assessing and monitoring volcanic and landslide hazards. Sensors such as ASTER can be utilized to monitor earthquake-induced landslide dams for hazard mitigation in case of dam breach [28]. Satellite remote sensing imagery was successfully employed for deployment, data collection, and dissemination during disaster management operations following the Haiti earthquake [29].
4.3. Floods
Flooding comprises various types, such as river floods, flash floods, coastal floods, and dam breaks, each exhibiting distinct characteristics with respect to occurrence time, magnitude frequency, duration, flow velocity, and areal extent. Satellite data have been effectively utilized throughout the multiple stages of flood disaster management
[62][30]. The GOES satellite’s multi-channel and multi-sensor data sources are employed for meteorological evaluation, interpretation, validation, and the development of numerical weather prediction models. Additionally, they can aid in assessing hydrological and hydro-geological risks
[63][31]. Nonetheless, the use of optical sensors for flood mapping is constrained by the substantial cloud cover prevalent during flood events. To overcome this limitation, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and RADARSAT have demonstrated significant utility in flood mapping
[64][32]. It is essential, however, to integrate remote sensing data and GIS data during flood management, particularly in disaster relief operations. In summary, remote sensing data find application in flood management for hazard assessment map preparation, hydrological model generation, quantitative soil assessment, flood risk mapping, and early warning
[65][33].
4.4. Impacts of Disaster Management System on Human Beings
People’s social, cultural, and economic lives can be greatly affected by technical problems in emergency management systems; these effects can include:
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Loss of Life and Injury: Technical problems in crisis management systems can slow down response and rescue efforts. This may cause delays in reaching affected areas, resulting in a larger number of casualties and injuries.
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Psychological Distress: When emergency management systems do not work well, people may feel alone and overwhelmed. This can make them feel more stressed, anxious, and traumatized.
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Disruption of Social Networks: When a disaster strikes, people often band together to help each other. Technical problems with crisis management systems can make it hard for people and communities to talk to each other and coordinate their relief efforts.
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Loss of Culture: Sometimes, disasters can damage or destroy culturally important locations and artifacts. Technical problems could make it harder to maintain and protect these important parts of cultural identity.
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Economic Loss: Technical flaws can stymie disaster response and recovery efforts, resulting in protracted downtime for businesses and key infrastructure. People, companies, and governments may lose money because of such disruptions.
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Inequality and Vulnerability: Vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly, disabled, or disadvantaged communities, may experience additional difficulties obtaining resources during catastrophes. Technical problems can make these differences worse, placing groups even more at risk.
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Migration and Displacement: If emergency management systems do not provide people with the right information or help, they may have to move or be moved in order to obtain help and resources.
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Lack of Information: During disasters, timely and accurate information is critical. Technical problems with communication systems can cause people to receive the wrong information, resulting in confusion and fear.
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Interconnected Disasters: In complex disasters with multiple events, technical problems can make it hard to obtain a full picture of events, in turn making it difficult to coordinate reactions.
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Loss of Trust in Institutions: Persistent technological failures in disaster management systems can erode public trust in government agencies and other institutions responsible for disaster response and management.
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Long-Term Recovery Challenges: It might be difficult to plan for effective recovery and mitigation plans when technical issues that hamper data collection and analysis make it impossible to estimate the long-term effects of catastrophes.