Satellite-based Disaster Mitigation Case Work - NASA : MilsatMagazine

By Duana D. Coulter, Science@NASA, Posted 08/13/09

Link: http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1285191401

"May 28th, 2009, at 2:24 a.m. local time, a deadly earthquake rocked Honduras, killing seven people and injuring several others, demolishing homes, damaging scores of other buildings, and sending terrified residents running through the streets.  Fortunately for the shaken residents, disaster officials knew exactly where to send help. A state-of-the-art Earth observation system called SERVIR1 directed them to the hardest hit areas.

Meaning “to serve” in Spanish, SERVIR is a joint effort of NASA, CATHALAC2, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Regional Center for the Mapping of Resources for Development, and other partners. The system uses satellite imagery to zero in on places where a flood, fire, hurricane, or earthquake has left destruction in its wake. Team members combine satellite data with ground observations, and display a near real-time map of crisis points. At a glance, decision-makers can see the locations of most severe damage so they can send help in a hurry."