Contribution of remote sensing to disaster management activities: A case study of the large fires in the Peloponnese, Greece

Abstract

Natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions usually result in significant human losses and environmental degradation. To minimize the consequences of these catastrophic events, fire managers and national authorities are in need of accurate information regarding the geographic extent of the affected areas, both during the outbreak and shortly after the suppression of the fire event.

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether analysis of Earth Observation (EO) data acquired through the International Charter ‘Space and Major Disasters’ can be successfully used to address the requirements of environmental disaster management. Specifically, operational information extracted through reliable and robust object‐based classification models was provided on the extent of the total burned area and the environmental implications in the Peloponnese (southern Greece) following a request from the National Forest Service and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Hellas.

The results not only revealed the size of the disaster but also indicated the potential operational use of remote sensing in order to provide immediate and precise information to local, national and international organizations in relation to the post‐fire impact assessment.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Greek National Forest Service and WWF Hellas. The authors wish to thank DMCii and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) of Nigeria for providing the imagery as well as Miss Linda Lucas for her valuable help in reviewing the English language content of this work.