Some areas of the world are particularly prone to natural disasters such as flooding, landslides and hurricanes. In the aftermath of such a disaster, the landscape might have undergone such dramatic changes that it is very difficult for the local aid worker to determine which villages are safe, which parts of the region require immediate evacuation and which roads allow for safe passage.

UNOSAT is a UN initiative that seeks to provide aid workers in such areas with access to satellite imagery that helps them assess the extent of the damages and hence better manage the crisis. Using a method called Rapid Mapping System (RMS) UNOSAT supplies the field workers with detailed satellite imagery that clearly shows how the land is inhabited and cultivated, and how the landscape has changed in the wake of the disaster. In the event of a flood, for example, rapid mapping of the flooded areas allows the local authorities to quickly assess the damages and direct the rescue services along safe paths to the worst affected areas.

In this demo we will take a closer look at the highland municipality of Matagalpa in Nicaragua, a region that often experiences floods and landslides.

When the disaster strikes, it is of course crucial that the satellite images get to the aid worker as quickly as possible. Once in their hands, the UNOSAT maps are very helpful and can be decisive in saving lives. The sooner the images reach, the better the chances of managing the disaster.

The problem, however, is that the data relay from the satellite to the field worker is still a time-consuming and cumbersome affair. Can GRID technology help speed up the process?