subject: Map Inevitable Tool Needed In Dealing With Natural Disasters [print this page] It has been more than a year ago when that fateful day suddenly caught most Japanese off guard when a huge magnitude 8.9 tsunami tremor hit the north-east coasts. Since then, most disaster responses team all over the world have consistently thought of ways to stay alert, be prepared and deal appropriately when natural disasters come anew.
Typhoons, tropical storms, floods, earthquakes, tsunami, drought and wild forest fire these are some instances of natural disasters that most people think we do not have any control of. But experienced natural disaster responders will tell you otherwise. They do not need any complicated software programs or computer hardware to help them appropriately respond to any given calamity. What they need in dealing with crises is only one thing a map.
Emergency situations require organizing data in maps. As available data is plotted, the support system will also be more accurate resulting to correct courses of response actions.
Maps Plotted, Questions Answered
By plotting spreadsheet data into maps, disaster responders have a better picture to locations that are likely be affected by natural disasters as well as the magnitude of its disruption. When different layers of data are visualized, the situation becomes simpler to be understood. Several questions are answered and given appropriate solutions like:
(1) Where does the natural disaster hit?
(2) What areas were affected?
(3) Where should disaster response team make improvements?
(4) Where do resources be allocated?
By geocoding a location, disaster responders are able to get a quick and better understanding when it comes to:
Birds Eye View
Maps give both satellite and street views that help responders know where they are heading. It allows them to know where they are heading and helps them identify the quickest route to take to arrive in an emergency situation.
Analytics
Analyzing each layer of data informs the responders about the impact of a crisis and what could be done to minimize the negative effects. It also helps them think of how one layer can be related to all other layers and how they can take decisive steps for risk management and mitigation.
Updates
The beauty of mapping data is that when there are updates, any changes can already be seen on the map real-time. No more hassles of drawing another set of traditional maps again which proves to be more time-consuming and inaccurate.
Accessibility
Another great thing about GIS-mapping is that it can be mobile.
It can also be carried along as responders are always on the go especially when emergency calls for them. Now, you do not need the maps pasted on the wall of headquarters. Maps can now be easily built in just a few minutes online.
Like all disaster responders, we also do not want another fateful tragedy surprise us and take a toll on millions lives. By mapping the geographical locations, we can stay alert and in full gear against any impending natural disaster knowing that we are one step ahead of them.
