Open GIS for Disasters

When a disaster event occurs, managers, responders, and the general public need timely geospatial data generated from various sources (e.g., physical process modeling and remote sensing) to make effective response decisions and improve management strategies. Meanwhile, to collect appropriate data and make efficient use of available data and information throughout all stages of a disaster, reliable software is required to organize, analyze, and display them logically to determine the size and scope of emergency management programs. This chapter introduces the application of open data and Geographic Information System tools to facilitate disaster management.