VULNERABILITY TO NATURAL DISASTERS IN SELECTED HYDROGRAPHIC BASINS IN PANAMA, USING GIS AND REMOTE SENSING

Abstract

This paper describes the application of useful techniques and procedures for vulnerability determination in selected watersheds with different forest coverage and anthropogenic intervention levels. Our scope is to manage and evaluate the occurrence and consequences of natural disasters caused by hydrometeorological phenomena. Natural disasters such as heavy rainfalls related to extreme hydrometeorological phenomena, may cause landslides, floods, floodwaters of rivers and streams. The population and local authorities lack of adequate preparation or knowledge about the magnitude and consequences of these events. By applying modern technologies like Remote Sensing and GIS we can characterize and describe the general conditions of the study area. One of the main aspects analyzed in this study was the role of soils in the occurrence of natural disasters, specifically landslides. The benefits of remote sensing digital processing techniques high-resolution satellite imagery and aerial photography, added to digital terrain models and fieldwork to identify, map and characterize vulnerability areas were tested. Hydrological parameters were also considered to characterize the water regime of the sub-basin on site.