A WebGIS-based information system for monitoring and warning of geological disasters for Lanzhou City, China

Abstract

Monitoring and warning of geological disasters accurately and in a timely fashion would dramatically mitigate casualties and economic losses. This paper takes Lanzhou city as an example and designs a Web-based system, namely the information system for geological disaster monitoring and warning (ISGDMW). Presented are its framework, key developing technologies, database, and working flow. The information system adopts a Browser/Server (B/S) structure and has three-tier architecture, combining in-situ monitoring instruments, the wireless sensor network, WebGIS techniques and the grey system theory. The framework of the ISGDMW can be divided into three categories: (1) in-situ monitoring system, it aims to monitor geological disaster sites and get state information of geological disaster sites; (2) database, manage in-situ monitoring data, antecedent field investigating data and basic data; (3) analyzing and warning system, analyze in-situ monitoring data, understand the deformation trend of the potential geological disaster, and release disaster warning information to the public. The ISGDMW allow the processes of geological disaster monitoring, in-situ monitoring data analysis, geological disaster warning to be implemented in an efficient and quick way, and can provide scientific suggestions to commanders for quick response to the possibility of geological disaster. © 2013 Fang Miao and Qi Yuan.