scholarly journals Increasing Timeliness of Satellite-Based Flood Mapping Using Early Warning Systems in the Copernicus Emergency Management Service

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2114
Author(s):  
Annett Wania ◽  
Inès Joubert-Boitat ◽  
Francesco Dottori ◽  
Milan Kalas ◽  
Peter Salamon
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Rapid Mapping ◽  
User Request ◽  
Time Stamps ◽  
Information Products ◽  
Product Delivery ◽  
Performance Statistics ◽  
Riverine Floods

Remotely sensed images have become an important source of information for actors involved in disaster management and satellite-based emergency mapping (SEM) is increasingly used to support the response phase in the first hours and days after a disaster occurs. The delivery timeliness of the crisis information is key to the success of SEM. In the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS), a procedure was tested during the past 5 years which links the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) with the on-demand Rapid Mapping module in order to anticipate satellite tasking in view of an upcoming activation of the service for riverine floods. This study aims at assessing if the procedure has helped to improve the delivery timeliness of the first flood impact information. For the assessment, we used the Rapid Mapping performance statistics recorded from June 2016 to December 2020. Standard Rapid Mapping activations for floods were compared with those preceded by an EFAS based pre-tasking request. The focus was on essential time stamps such as activation start, provision of imagery and the availability of derived information products. For the pre-tasking-related activations, we further compared the EFAS predictions with the Rapid Mapping user request and compared flood predictions with actual observations. Our results show that the EFAS based pre-tasking improves the timeliness of the first product delivery due to the fact that satellite images could be acquired earlier compared to activations without pre-tasking.

scholarly journals COHERENT CHANGE DETECTION FOR REPEATED-PASS INTERFEROMETRIC SAR IMAGES: AN APPLICATION TO EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT ON BUILDINGS

2018 ◽  
Vol XLII-3/W4 ◽  
pp. 383-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Oxoli ◽  
P. Boccardo ◽  
M. A. Brovelli ◽  
M. E. Molinari ◽  
A. Monti Guarnieri
Keyword(s):  
Change Detection ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Damage Assessment ◽  
Earthquake Damage ◽  
Detection Sensitivity ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Sar Images ◽  
Coherent Change Detection ◽  
Interferometric Sar

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> During disaster response, the availability of relevant information, delivered in a proper format enabling its use among the different actors involved in response efforts, is key to lessen the impact of the disaster itself. Focusing on the contribution of geospatial information, meaningful advances have been achieved through the adoption of satellite earth observations within emergency management practices. Among these technologies, the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging has been extensively employed for large-scale applications such as flood areas delineation and terrain deformation analysis after earthquakes. However, the emerging availability of higher spatial and temporal resolution data has uncovered the potential contribution of SAR to applications at a finer scale. This paper proposes an approach to enable pixel-wise earthquake damage assessments based on Coherent Change Detection methods applied to a stack of repeated-pass interferometric SAR images. A preliminary performance assessment of the procedure is provided by processing Sentinel-1 data stack related to the 2016 central Italy earthquake for the towns of Ametrine and Accumoli. Damage assessment maps from photo-interpretation of high-resolution airborne imagery, produced in the framework of Copernicus EMS (Emergency Management Service &amp;ndash; European Commission) and cross-checked with field survey, is used as ground truth for the performance assessment. Results show the ability of the proposed approach to automatically identify changes at an almost individual building level, thus enabling the possibility to empower traditional damage assessment procedures from optical imagery with the centimetric change detection sensitivity characterizing SAR. The possibility of disseminating outputs in a GIS-like format represents an asset for an effective and cross-cutting information sharing among decision makers and analysts.</p>

Torrent Monitoring and Early Warning Systems Development

2022 ◽  
pp. 195-216
Author(s):  
Dejan Vasović ◽  
Ratko Ristić ◽  
Muhamed Bajrić
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Early Warning System ◽  
Catchment Area ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Small Catchment ◽  
National Emergency

The level of sustainability of a modern society is associated with the ability to manage unwanted stressors from the environment, regardless of origin. Torrential floods represent a hydrological hazard whose frequency and intensity have increased in recent years, mainly due to climate changes. In order to effectively manage the risks of torrents, it is necessary to apply early warning systems, since torrential floods are formed very quickly, especially on the watercourses of a small catchment area. The early warning system is part of a comprehensive torrential flood risk management system, seen as a technical entity for the collection, transformation, and rapid distribution of data. Modern early warning systems are the successors of rudimentary methods used in the past, and they are based on ICT and mobile applications developed in relation to the requirements of end users. The chapter presents an analysis of characteristic examples of the use. The main conclusion of the chapter indicates the need to implement early warning systems in national emergency management structures.

scholarly journals Hydro-meteorological reconstruction and geomorphological impact assessment of the October 2018 catastrophic flash flood at Sant Llorenç, Mallorca (Spain)

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 2597-2617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Lorenzo-Lacruz ◽  
Arnau Amengual ◽  
Celso Garcia ◽  
Enrique Morán-Tejeda ◽  
Víctor Homar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prediction Models ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Convective Rainfall ◽  
Hydraulic Simulation

Abstract. An extraordinary convective rainfall event, unforeseen by most numerical weather prediction models, generated a devastating flash flood (305 m3 s−1) in the town of Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, Mallorca, on 9 October 2018. Four people died inside this village, while casualties were up to 13 over the entire affected area. This extreme event has been reconstructed by implementing an integrated flash flood modelling approach in the Ses Planes catchment up to Sant Llorenç (23.4 km2), based on three components: (i) generation of radar-derived precipitation estimates, (ii) modelling of accurate discharge hydrographs yielded by the catchment (using FEST and KLEM models), and (iii) hydraulic simulation of the event and mapping of affected areas (using HEC-RAS). Radar-derived rainfall estimates show very high agreement with rain gauge data (R2=0.98). Modelled flooding extent is in close agreement with the observed extension by the Copernicus Emergency Management Service, based on Sentinel-1 imagery, and both far exceed the extension for a 500-year return period flood. Hydraulic simulation revealed that water reached a depth of 3 m at some points, and modelled water depths highly correlate (R2=0.91) with in situ after-event measurements. The 9 October flash flood eroded and transported woody and abundant sediment debris, changing channel geomorphology. Water velocity greatly increased at bridge locations crossing the river channel, especially at those closer to the Sant Llorenç town centre. This study highlights how the very low predictability of this type of extreme convective rainfall events and the very short hydrological response times typical of small Mediterranean catchments continue to challenge the implementation of early warning systems, which effectively reduce people's exposure to flash flood risk in the region.

scholarly journals Applicability of the MultiTemporal Coherence Approach to Sentinel-1 for the Detection and Delineation of Burnt Areas in the Context of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 2607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uxue Donezar ◽  
Teresa De Blas ◽  
Arantzazu Larrañaga ◽  
Fermín Ros ◽  
Lourdes Albizua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Optical Data ◽  
Mountainous Area ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Burnt Area ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Optical Imagery ◽  
Burnt Areas

In the framework of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) Mapping Validation, the applicability of the MultiTemporal Coherence (MTC) technique using Sentinel-1 data and the software made available by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP), for the detection and delineation of burnt areas was tested. The main purpose of the study was to test a methodology that would benefit from the advantages of delineating burnt areas based on radar data with respect to optical data due to its capacity to acquire data both night and day and to avoid the interference of clouds and/or smoke. Moreover, the study aimed to acheive the delineation of the burnt areas using Sentinel-1 and SNAP in the frame of an emergency mapping where processing time is constrained due to the necessity of giving a quick response to the emergency. Four Sentinel-1 images were acquired over a mountainous area mainly covered by Mediterranean vegetation that suffered from massive forest fires in the summer of 2016. The burnt area delineation was obtained by an object-based image analysis (OBIA) of the resulting MTC image followed by a visual inspection. The effects of the polarization, the acquisition mode, and the incidence angle of the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery were studied in order to assess the contribution of these sensor varaibles on the results. Results of the Sentinel-1 based delineation were compared to those using optical imagery, which is traditionally used for this application. Therefore, the fire delineation that was derived was compared to that derived using three optical images: pre- and post-event Sentinel-2 images and a post-event SPOT 6 image. The first two were used to calculate the differences of the burnt area index (dBAI), used to derive the burnt area delineation by OBIA and photo interpretation with the help of the SPOT 6 image. Results of the comparison showed the feasibility of using the MTC technique for burnt area delineation, as high overall accuracy values were observed when compared to the burnt area delineation derived from optical imagery. The importance of the incidence angle of the Sentinel-1 images was assessed as well, with lower angles resulting in higher overall accuracies. In addition, the availability of double polarization of the Sentinel-1 images, allowed us to give recommendations regarding which polarization gave the best results. The potential for the use of SAR data, obtaining equivalent results to those obtained from optical imagery, is significant in an emergency context given that radar sensors acquire images continuosly and in all weather conditions.

The New, Systematic Global Flood Monitoring Product of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Salamon ◽  
Niall Mctlormick ◽  
Christopher Reimer ◽  
Tom Clarke ◽  
Bernhard Bauer-Marschallinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Flood Monitoring

scholarly journals E2mC: Improving Emergency Management Service Practice through Social Media and Crowdsourcing Analysis in Near Real Time

Sensors ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 2766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clemens Havas ◽  
Bernd Resch ◽  
Chiara Francalanci ◽  
Barbara Pernici ◽  
Gabriele Scalia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Management Service

A forensic hydrometeorological and geomorphological reconstruction of the catastrophic flash flood occurred in Mallorca (Spain) on October 9th, 2018

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnau Amengual ◽  
Jorge Lorenzo-Lacruz ◽  
Celso Garcia ◽  
Enrique Morán Tejeda ◽  
Víctor Homar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prediction Models ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Convective Rainfall ◽  
Hydraulic Simulation ◽  
Flood Peak ◽  
The Town

&lt;p&gt;An extraordinary convective rainfall event &amp;#8211;unforeseen by most numerical weather prediction models&amp;#8211; led to a devastating flash flood in the town of Sant Lloren&amp;#231; des Cardassar, eastern Mallorca, on 9th October 2018. Four people died inside the village, while the total death toll was of 13 and economic damages amounted to 91 M&amp;#8364;. The observed flooded extension inside the town by the Copernicus Emergency Management Service &amp;#8211;based on Sentinel-1 imagery&amp;#8211; far exceeded the extension for a 500-year return period flood. This extreme event has been reconstructed by implementing an integrated flood modelling approach over the semi-arid and small-sized Ses Planes basin up to Sant Lloren&amp;#231; (23.4 km&amp;#178;). This procedure is based on three components: (i) generation of high spatial and temporal resolution radar-derived precipitation estimates; (ii) modelling of the hydrologic response based on post-flood peak discharge estimates; and (iii) hydraulic simulation and mapping of the affected areas based on high water marks. Radar-derived rainfall estimates and the simulated flooding extent and water depths highly correlate with observations. The hydraulic simulation has revealed that water reached a depth of 3 m at some points inside Sant Lloren&amp;#231; and that water velocity greatly increased at bridges&amp;#8217; locations close to the town centre. Even if the catastrophic flash flood was not a debris flow, the flood bore eroded enough material to change channel geomorphology. This study also highlights how the concurrence of the very low predictability of this type of extreme convective rainfall events and the very short hydrological response times typical of small Mediterranean catchments still challenges the implementation of early warning systems, which effectively reduce people&amp;#8217;s exposure to flash flood risk in the region.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Hydro-meteorological reconstruction and geomorphological impact assessment of the October, 2018 catastrophic flash flood at Sant Llorenç, Mallorca (Spain)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Lorenzo-Lacruz ◽  
Celso Garcia ◽  
Enrique Morán-Tejeda ◽  
Arnau Amengual ◽  
Víctor Homar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prediction Models ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Hydrological Response ◽  
Convective Rainfall ◽  
Hydraulic Simulation ◽  
Highly Nonlinear

Abstract. An extraordinary convective rainfall event, unforeseen by most prediction models, generated a devastating flash flood in Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, Mallorca on October 9, 2018. Four people died in the town (13 people died in the entire affected area). The event was reconstructed, implementing an integrated flash flood modelling approach in this small (23.4 km2) and semi-arid ungauged Mediterranean catchment, with a highly nonlinear hydrological response to heavy precipitation, based on three components: (i) generation of radar-derived precipitation estimates during the event; (ii) modelling of an accurate discharge hydrograph yielded by the basin; and (iii) hydraulic simulation of the event and mapping of affected areas. Radar-derived rainfall estimates showed very high agreement with rain gauge data (R2 = 0.98). Modelled flooding extent is in close agreement with the observed extension by Copernicus Emergency Management Service, based on Sentinel-1 imagery, and both far exceed the extension for a 500-year return period flood. Hydraulic simulation showed that water reached a depth of 3 m at some points, and modelled water depths highly correlate (R2 = 0.91) with in-situ after-event measurements. The flash flood eroded and transported woody and abundant sediment debris, changing channel geomorphology. Water velocity greatly increased at bridge locations crossing the river channel, especially at those closer to Sant Llorenç town centre. This study shows how the very low predictability of this type of extreme convective rainfall events and the very short hydrological response times typical of small Mediterranean catchments continue to challenge the implementation of early warning systems, which effectively reduce people's exposure to flash flood risk in the region.

scholarly journals CIME: Context-aware geolocation of emergency-related posts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Scalia ◽  
Chiara Francalanci ◽  
Barbara Pernici
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Context Aware ◽  
Rapid Mapping ◽  
Emergency Event ◽  
Crisis Mapping ◽  
Indirect Information ◽  
Geolocation Accuracy

AbstractInformation extracted from social media has proven to be very useful in the domain of emergency management. An important task in emergency management is rapid crisis mapping, which aims to produce timely and reliable maps of affected areas. During an emergency, the volume of emergency-related posts is typically large, but only a small fraction is relevant and help rapid mapping effectively. Furthermore, posts are not useful for mapping purposes unless they are correctly geolocated and, on average, less than 2% of posts are natively georeferenced. This paper presents an algorithm, called CIME, that aims to identify and geolocate emergency-related posts that are relevant for mapping purposes. While native geocoordinates are most often missing, many posts contain geographical references in their metadata, such as texts or links that can be used by CIME to filter and geolocate information. In addition, social media creates a social network and each post can be enhanced with indirect information from the post’s network of relationships with other posts (for example, a retweet can be associated with other geographical references which are useful to geolocate the original tweet). To exploit all this information, CIME uses the concept of context, defined as the information characterizing a post both directly (the post’s metadata) and indirectly (the post’s network of relationships). The algorithm was evaluated on a recent major emergency event demonstrating better performance with respect to the state of the art in terms of total number of geolocated posts, geolocation accuracy and relevance for rapid mapping.

scholarly journals Análisis de la evaluación de daños en edificios basada en imágenes de satélite y aéreas en el ámbito de Copernicus EMS Mapping

2021 ◽  
pp. 71-98
Author(s):  
Raquel Ciriza Labiano ◽  
Uxue Donezar Hoyos ◽  
Fermín Ros Elso ◽  
Teresa De Blas Corral ◽  
Agustín Tamés Noriega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Macroseismic Scale

El Servicio de Gestión de Emergencias de Copernicus (Copernicus EMS del inglés, Copernicus Emergency Management Service) es un programa financiado con fondos públicos de la Unión Europea y coordinado por la Comisión Europea que proporciona a todos los actores involucrados en la gestión de desastres naturales,  situaciones de emergencia y crisis humanitarias información geoespacial, principalmente basada en imágenes de satélite. Incluye componentes de Alerta temprana y Monitoreo, y de Mapeo con un módulo de Validación encargado de la evaluación de la calidad de los productos y el fomento de su mejora, en el marco del cual se realizó este estudio. Dentro del portafolio de productos de mapeo, los productos de clasificación de daños tienen como objetivo evaluar la intensidad y distribución espacial del daño resultante de un evento en edificios, bloques de viviendas o usos del suelo. Las categorías de daños para edificios y bloques de viviendas se definieron inicialmente con base en la Escala Macrosísmica Europea-1998 (EMS-98, del inglés European Macroseismic Scale). Este artículo muestra la función doble del módulo de validación. Por un lado, el artículo muestra los resultados de la validación de cuatro mapas de daños en edificios realizados por Copernicus EMS y por otro analiza la aptitud de la Escala Macrosísmica Europea (EMS-98), concebida para asignar daño in situ, para categorizar daño en edificios a partir de distintos tipos de imágenes (imágenes de satélite, imágenes oblicuas y ortofotos). La principal conclusión es que las categorías EMS-98 no se pueden traducir directamente para la evaluación de daños con base en imágenes de satélite y, en su lugar, se podría utilizar un enfoque operativo, en línea con estudios anteriores.

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