GEO-INFORMATION SUPPORT IN MANAGEMENT OF URBAN DISASTERS

Within the management of urban disasters, geo-information systems (GIs) are used in any of the ~hases of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery as most of the required data have a spatial component. Examples of GIs-based decision support systems on mitigation are found in simulation models of floods and earthquakes. In the preparation phase all kinds o f spatial obsen~tions and models can be used to ~ red ic t which areas will be threatened. To prepore for adequately responding in case of an actual disaster, these systems are capable of developing realistic scenarios that are used within training and virtual reality JVR) systems. During the actual response phase geo-information is used intensively: for gefting an impression of the environment, for routing, for obtaining up-to-date information about the actual situation, etc. In the recovery phase, there is often a high public and political interest to judge the situation comparing the preand post-disaster situation and to set priorities for the rebuilding. Despite this potential of GIs-based suppori for urban disaster management, the use of these systems or even the util. isation of geo-information itself is still very limited in countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The emergency man+ agement is usually done with paper maps that are seldom up-to-date. Useful systems to support decision makers in any o f the phases of disaster management are nearly completely locking. To improve the work of decision makers and rescue teams, different premises have to be archived in relation to: meta-information to provide insight on the avail5 obilify and usefulness of the geo-information itseli, the technical equipment of the rescue teams (i.e. communication devices and field computers), and the up-to-dote information from the affected areas (images, observations, reports). t This paper suggests a framework for 'i/rban and urgent" disaster management to facilitate the work of police forces, 0 Q a fire departments, ambulances and government coordinators in disaster situations by extending and improving the "ti/2 isation of geo-information. Within a pre-disaster situation, geo-information suppori management further can assist planIz 0 ning for prevention and m~tigation. . + 0 E