Catálogo de publicaciones - libros

In this paper we described our experience in the development of real time interactive 3D systems in the form of a framework — HorizoN Sentry — that allows not only the real time simulation of environments based in Geographical Information Systems data but also its fusion with life sensors like traffic, Global Navigation Satellite Systems and weather based sensors. A design to implementation view of the system is shown together with demonstration results based in the European Space Agency framework projects and private developments.

This paper will address multiple conference topics but will focus on user needs and technology developments. The paper will describe issues of geo-information for disaster management developed around the experiences prior to, during, and following the World Trade Center event of 9/11/01 in New York in which the author was a participant. The events of 9/11 have had a dramatic impact on the state of geo-information in disaster management. Thus, it is a focal point for the paper. The paper will be presented from the perspective of experience and thus is practical rather than theoretical.

The goal of this paper is to underline the importance of real-time systems for managing information during the phase of disaster monitoring. We stress the importance of soft real-time GIS, and we present a list of barriers to overcome in order to get this kind of system. Among the barriers, we present a solution for real-time indexing of spatio-temporal data based on a data structure named PO-Tree.

From a technical perspective, the integration of existing information networks and evolution of appropriate precursor services to high reliable operational services for crisis management is one of the main challenges in the context of GMES1.

Due to the existing budgetary constraints, governmental organizations, decision makers and all users that would like to build up such decision support centers are looking for cost and time efficient ways to build up the required operational (GMES) services.

During the conference, VCS will present a concept for a step-wise evolution of a risk warning and crisis management system, with particular focus on risks typical to mountainous areas e.g. avalanches, landslides, debris flows, floods, etc.

Alsat-1 was initially a know how transfer program. It was to allow to 11 young engineers acquiring knowledge by the active participation in all Alsat-1 project phases.

Two options were suggested to us:

We chose the second configuration without hesitating and the course of the project gave us later reason because it was carried out starting from a new design (scratch). Several modules were new in Alsat-1 (the imager, the storage unit SSDR) and others derived from demonstratives versions having flown once (redundant storage module SA1100 and the High Rate Transmitter). This allowed the Algerian engineers to be implied since the first phase of the project (Mission Analysis phase).

Recognizing an increasing demand for up-to-date and precise information on disaster and crisis situations the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of DLR has set up a dedicated interface for linking the available and comprehensive remote sensing and analysis capacities with national and international civil protection, humanitarian relief actors and political decision makers. This so called “Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information” (ZKI) is engaged in the acquisition, analysis and provision of satellite based information products on natural disasters, humanitarian crisis situation, and civil security. Besides response and assessment activities, DFDZKI also focuses on the provision of geoinformation for medium term rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention activities. DFD-ZKI operates in national, European and international contexts, closely networking with public authorities (civil security), non-governmental organizations (humanitarian relief organizations), satellite operators and other space agencies. ZKI supports the “International Charter on Space and Major Disasters”, which is a major cooperative activity among international space agencies in the context of natural and man-made disasters.

Different examples on the analysis and fusion of satellite imagery for information extraction and mapping actions in several disaster events are presented. These include examples from earthquakes, floods, forest fires as well as man made disasters and humanitarian relief. The full cycle from emergency call, satellite tasking, data acquisition, pre-processing, interpretation, map generation and provision of the information to the end-user is presented. In all the demonstrated cases the data were generated and provided either through in house satellite acquisitions, the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters or through other national and international data provision networks. It is shown how satellite imagery can be assessed, processed and turned into information products provided to decision makers within hours. Furthermore, gaps between research and real world, near-real-time mapping requirements are discussed.

In the Italian landscape there are a lot of Cultural Heritage sites, thirty seven of which are parts of the Unesco world heritage list. It means that frequently the disaster management has to deal with Cultural Heritage problems, such as preservation, safeguard, reconstruction, etc. Preserving Cultural Heritage for future generations is a duty; the importance of this task is proved by the attention which important international organizations have towards it (UNESCO, ICOMOS, CIPA).

It is possible to conceive two different risk typologies for Cultural Heritage runs. The first one, which could be called “ordinary” is the normal (inevitable?) decay due to age, so a low traumatic but continuous action; the second one refers to isolated impulsive events (earthquakes, fires, floods…). The correct approach to face these two kinds of risk is to get an accurate documentation of objects, buildings and sites. In fact, a whole knowledge of the object is able to lead both the common planned maintenance, and possible extraordinary restorations.

To correctly document an object, it would be important to have a 3D realistic model; its exploration could let the user achieve differently detailed data (both shape and radiometric), depending on the level of inquiry. Nowadays, the preferred way to achieve this goal passes through an integrate use of different survey technologies; in addiction a unique site reference system should be adopted. As a result of such choice, it would be possible to integrate all the surveys made at different epochs; moreover, alphanumeric information coming from different kind of studies could be associated to this precise geometric base in a GIS environment. This kind of tool is important for the management, registration, maintenance, and updating of the data; besides it makes consultation easier and offers the chance to join data for interdisciplinary analysis.

This article focuses on the integrate use of digital photogrammetry and LIDAR, which in recent years were involved in a deep technology progress; an interesting recently conceived tool, that can be easily created by adopting these two techniques, is the so called . It lets the user access and manage 3D data through simply viewing a 2D monoscopic image; it adds correct 3D metric information to simple photos, so that information is much easier to be gained also by people who are not survey experts. The results of some test applications are exposed. The tests were carried out on some decoration stones in the Guarini Chapel, in Turin, where the Holy Shroud was held before the tragic fire in 1997. Another set of tests was carried out in cooperation with the Cultural Heritage Safeguard Office of Valle d’Aosta (northern region of Italy) and centred around the creation of a GIS for the management of the archaeological data on the walls of the important and well preserved medieval Castle of Graines.

This paper will address multiple conference topics but will focus on user needs and technology developments. The paper will describe issues of geo-information for disaster management developed around the experiences prior to, during, and following the World Trade Center event of 9/11/01 in New York in which the author was a participant. The events of 9/11 have had a dramatic impact on the state of geo-information in disaster management. Thus, it is a focal point for the paper. The paper will be presented from the perspective of experience and thus is practical rather than theoretical.

For a number of years, IBRAE RAS has run the activities to form the bank of topographic and subject-matter electronic maps/plans of various scales.

Principal tasks of the IBRAE Bank of Electronic Maps are formulated as follows:

Based on original software and utilization of MAPINFO GIS opportunities, a number of specialized information and prognostic geoinformation technology-based systems has been created Special software modules also are designed for the following - organize an enquiry to retrieve and look through a required map, navigations all over Russia with automatic loading of required electronic maps; access from the map window to information and enquiry data on radiation hazardous objects of FAAE of Russia, provide on electronic maps the results of visualization of radiation monitoring data.

The main objective of this OCTAGON Project is to produce Special Autonomous UAVs to monitor the Low Altitude Electromagnetic Turbulence in the Earth’ atmosphere. This kind of UAV will be also used in Special Operations such as the research of the low altitude atmosphere, dangerous atmospheric phenomena, hazard weather behavior, in local disaster aerial surveillance and monitoring, aerial investigations of volcanic activities or over any high contaminated area up to the use in space exploration, such as the exploration of the planet Mars.

The Low Altitude Electromagnetic Turbulence in the atmosphere of the Earth was discovered in 1996, and a complete scientific presentation of it was made since then to several international institutions and authorities, including NTSB in US, the Romanian Space Agency and the United Nations, the Office of Outer Space Affairs during the Workshop for the Disaster Management in Europe, at Brasov, Romania in 20 of May 2003.