Flood Studies in Asia by Remote Sensing
M.A.H. Pramanik, S.Murai, Y. Honda, A.S.Herath, H. kakiuchi and M. Takagi
Institute of Industrial Science
University of Tokyo
Abstract
Satellite Remote Sensing technology provides an authentic source of information for surveying, identifying, classifying, mapping and monitoring of natural resources, environment and disasters. Multiband, multidate and multistage satellite imagery has been extensively used in Asian countries for water resources studies, monitoring and management including flood investigation. The metereorological satellite imagery/data (1000m resolution), Landsat / Spot imagery/data (30m & 10m) have wide global applications for flood forecasting, monitoring, damage assessment, construction, rehabilitation, etc. In the present paper an attempt has been made to highlight the application of satellite Remote Sensing technology for flood studies in the Asian countries particularly Bangladesh and China. The unprecedented and devastating flood of 1987 and 1988 in Bangladesh and 1991 in China (Tai-Hu lake area) have been studied using satellite Remote Sensing technology. The mapping of the flood damage area has been completed and other socio-economic consequences due to flooding have been described using conventional as well as integrated RS-GIS (Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System) information/data.
Asian countries with majority (about 3 billion) of world population (more than 5 billion) are facing frequent disasters like floods, windstorms (typhoons/cyclones/tornadoes), droughts, earthquake, volcanic eruptions, environmental degradations, etc. Satellite Remote Sensing technology could play a vital role in disaster monitoring, mitigation, damage assessment, preparedness, prevention, training, information exchange, regional and international cooperation. A network mechanism and possible cooperative approach has been explained in this paper.
1.0 Introduction
The space age was dawned on 4 October 1957 with the launching of the Russian satellite Sputnik I as a part of the International Geophysical Year (1957-58) activities. The launching of the meteorological satellite in 1960, earth resources satellites -- ERTS / LANDSAT I 1972 and SPOT IN 1986 has made global applications of satellite Remote Sensing technology for inventorying and management of natural resources, monitoring of environment disasters. In the present paper an attempt has been made to highlight the applications of satellite Remote Sensing technology for flood studies in the Asian Countries particularly Bangladesh and China. The unprecedented and devastating floods of 1987 and 988 in Bangladesh and 1991 in China (Tai-Hu lake area) have been studied using satellite Remote Sensing technology. The mapping of the flood damage area has been completed and other socio-economic consequences due to flooding have been described using conventional as well as integrated RS-GIS (Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System) information/data. A network mechanism and possible cooperative approach -- regional and international has also been explained in the paper.
