Remote Sensing for Resilient Multi-Hazard Disaster Response, Volume I: Introduction to Damage Assessment Methodologies

Keywords:  Damage assessments.  Multi-hazard disaster response.  Remote sensing.  Disaster resilient communities.  Reconnaissance techniques.  Post-disaster deployment.  Tiered-frameworks.  Emergency response.  Disaster mitigation.

Abstract: This report introduces the use of remote sensing and advanced technologies for resilient multi-hazard disaster response.  The roles of technology push and user pull as factors leading to the increasing use of remote sensing within operational disaster situations are discussed, together with their contribution towards enhancing resilience through more rapid and resourceful response.  A tiered reconnaissance framework is presented, which serves as a conceptual model for organizing post-disaster deployments.  Tier 1 presents a ‘regional perspective on damage; Tier 2 offers a more detailed neighborhood presentation of damage within a community; and Tier 3 offers a highly detailed per-building record of loss.  The role of MCEER and its Remote Sensing Institute is described, and an overview of 16 events after which MCEER teams have performed laboratory- and field-based damage assessments is presented.  This is Volume I of a five part series of reports that investigate the use of remote sensing techniques for resilient multi-hazard disaster response.