The Pacific Community (SPC) has been recognized for their innovation in using geospatial technology. This includes equipment used in visualization, measurement, and analysis of earth’s features, that involves systems like global positioning systems (GPS), geographical information systems (GIS), and remote sensing (RS) in disaster management.
Disasters can be of any forms and when they strike, the impacts can be felt and seen through all aspects of the society. This is demonstrated through economic losses, infrastructural damage to towns, communities and destruction to the natural environment.
For many small island states in the Pacific, they find themselves in geo-tectonic environments where they are prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, landslides, meteorological; and oceanic hazards such as, cyclones, floods, sea inundation in times of storm and high tides which are ever present.
With the aid of geospatial technology, Pacific communities will be empowered to improve resilience to disaster and risk in the Pacific region.
Presented with the Asia Geospatial Excellence Award last month by GeoSmart Asia for the application of geospatial technology in Disaster Management, SPC has partnered with the World Bank and Digital Globe in applying geospatial data for hazard assessment; and infrastructure risk ; and the use of satellite data in assessing risk and damage on the ground before and after disasters.
“I am very proud of this global recognition of the vital work the Pacific Community undertakes for disaster and risk. Geospatial technologies are playing an increasingly important role in early warning systems, assessment of post disaster damage and development of decision support systems that assist planners and national disaster management officers,” Pacific Community Director-General, Dr Colin Tukuitonga said.
