GIS and Remote Sensing for Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems Training Course

This course equips participants with practical skills to use GIS and remote sensing in multi-hazard early warning systems. It focuses on hazard mapping, exposure and vulnerability analysis, satellite monitoring, risk assessment, and warning dissemination.

Target Groups

• Disaster risk reduction and management officers
• Meteorological and hydrological staff
• GIS and remote sensing analysts
• Climate adaptation and resilience planners
• Humanitarian and emergency managers
• Local and national government officials
• Managers and supervisors seeking to strengthen organizational practice in this field
• Consultants and professionals supporting related organizations

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain multi-hazard risk and the components of early warning systems
• Map hazards such as floods, drought, landslides, and storms
• Assess exposure and vulnerability using GIS
• Use satellite imagery to monitor hazards
• Process rainfall, elevation, and land cover data
• Develop composite multi-hazard risk maps
• Integrate forecasts and thresholds into warning systems
• Design warning communication and dissemination maps
• Use dashboards and web GIS for situational awareness
• Support preparedness and response planning

Course Modules

Module 1: Multi-Hazard Risk and Early Warning Systems

• Hazard, exposure, and vulnerability
• Four elements of early warning
• Sendai framework
• Multi-hazard approaches
• Institutional arrangements

Module 2: Geospatial Data for Hazard Analysis

• Data sources and portals
• Open satellite datasets
• Data preparation
• Coordinate systems
• Data management

Module 3: Flood and Drought Mapping

• Flood extent mapping
• Rainfall analysis
• Drought indices
• Vegetation condition monitoring
• Seasonal monitoring

Module 4: Landslide, Storm, and Other Hazard Mapping

• Terrain and slope analysis
• Landslide susceptibility
• Cyclone and storm tracking
• Wildfire and heat hazards
• Weighted overlay techniques

Module 5: Remote Sensing Techniques for Monitoring

• Optical and radar imagery
• Image preprocessing
• Index calculations
• Change detection
• Time series monitoring

Module 6: Exposure and Vulnerability Assessment

• Population and infrastructure exposure
• Socioeconomic vulnerability
• Critical facilities
• Vulnerability indices
• Gender and inclusion

Module 7: Multi-Hazard Risk Mapping

• Hazard integration
• Risk matrices
• Composite risk mapping
• Uncertainty
• Validation

Module 8: Forecasting, Thresholds, and Warnings

• Forecast products
• Threshold setting
• Impact-based forecasting
• Warning levels
• Decision protocols

Module 9: Dissemination and Situational Awareness

• Warning dissemination channels
• Maps for communities
• Web GIS dashboards
• Emergency operations support
• Community participation

Module 10: Practical Exercises and Capstone Project

• Building a hazard and vulnerability map for a case area
• Analyzing satellite imagery for hazard monitoring
• Producing a multi-hazard risk map
• Designing a warning workflow
• Presenting an early warning plan