Spatial Information Technologies for Disaster Management in China

Abstract

China’s monsoon climate and special geographical and geological conditions leaves it vulnerable to frequent natural disasters, including floods, droughts, forest fires, and earthquakes. Because China’s population density is high, these disasters often result in serious casualties and enormous economic losses. The problem becomes more and more severe as the frequency of natural disasters and related economic losses are expected to increase with global climate change. Therefore, disaster prevention and relief are considered as among the most important tasks facing the nation. A great deal of management and technical work (including spatial information technology for disaster reduction) has been performed to reduce losses from natural disasters. This chapter begins with an introduction to China’s disaster management and emergency management systems. The “5.12” Wenchuan Earthquake and the application of spatial information technology to disaster relief in the earthquake area is then described. The chapter concludes by describing a new project in China, the “Small Satellite Constellation for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Forecasting”.