March 2003
Project: Capacity Building of GIS for Disaster Management

GIS in Disaster Management Mitigation of natural disaster management can be successful only when detailed knowledge is obtained about the expected frequency, character, and magnitude of hazard events in an area. Natural disasters have shown a drastic increase in magnitude and frequency in the last decades. It is also imperative that there be a dramatic increase in technical capabilities to mitigate them.

Background

There was a need to train the professionals involved in research and implementation of disaster management plans to broaden their knowledge and develop skill sets on the on the use of various GIS applications in disaster management which include prevention, reduction or mitigation of risks, and planning for preparedness, response and recovery for the probable or real-time natural or human caused disasters.

Trained Managers could utilise their skills to prepare detailed simulation and modeling to carry out analysis of scenarios and a very strong detailed spatial database .They could make a proactive initiative to compile, standardise, quality test and share the existing database as well as work out a mechanism to avoid repetition of efforts by different organisations. A lot of time, resources and efforts are lost without providing meaningful results.

Methodology

CSDMS, keeping in view the above situation and on the basis of the need assessed of the target group build and conducted a six day capacity building training program from 24th-29th March 2003. Based on the new disaster management paradigm, the traning program stressed prevention, mitigation and preparedness, while strengthening emergency response such as rescue, relief, rehabilitation and recovery through GIS technology and other related aspects. The traning focus was also extended to include aspects such as responding to disasters, preparation, mitigation, planning, prediction, response and recovery.

The organisations who participated in the capacity building traning program included the Department of Earthquake Engineering, Roorkee University, Institute of Town Planners, India, Central Road Research Institute, School of Planning and Architecture, Geological Survey of India, Department of Disaster Management,Uttarakhand, Wadia Institute of Himalyan Geology, Punjab, Delhi and Jammu University, NCDM,IIPA and representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

The training on disaster management through GIS helped the professionals to know the location and the associated attribute data pertaining to the location and its spatial relationship with numerous other parameters, to carry out effective spatial planning, minimize the possible damage, ensure immediate action when required and prioritise actions for long-term sustainability.

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