Ash/SO2 content

This product has two possible origins: satellite data only, or an ash dispersion model based on numerical modeling. The ash content shows the total mass expressed in T/Km2, and the effective particle radius and the aerosol optical depth (estimated at 550 nm) can also be provided. The SO2 content shows the total mass expressed in T/Km2. The Ash Dispersion model indicates, through numerical modelling, the ash cumulative ground deposit according to the wind field.

Fire Products

Four types of product containing fire products for the recovery phase were included in the ERS V2 portfolio:

• Burned area mapping at high resolution (BSM-1)
• Fire severity mapping (BSM-2)
• Active fire location (FMM-1)
• Burned area mapping at medium resolution (FMM-2)

Data provided by optical satellites are used to generate monitoring products in near-real-time, burned area mapping products at medium and high resolution scale, and fire severity mapping products. Additional information such as roads, administrative boundaries, etc. can be included in the layout of the map product, as well as land cover information. Fire managers and field teams can use this continuous 24 h FMM-1 product to organise the deployment of resources.

Within the emergency response phase, the active fire location product, and the burned area mapping at medium resolution product are available. The active fire location product identifies and derives information about active fires (ongoing fires). The burned area mapping at medium resolution product provides rapid burned scar mapping at medium spatial resolution.

Within the recovery phase, the burned area mapping at high resolution product and the fire severity mapping product are available. Both of these indicators are key factors in quantifying the impact of fires on landscapes, selecting and prioritizing treatments applied on site, planning and monitoring restoration and recovery activities and, finally, providing baseline information for future monitoring.

Damage mapping

This product offers block-level estimates of seismic damage from post-event radar satellite data only. The product can also be created by the combination of radar and optical data.

Evacuation plan

See the description in the section on Preparedness/Prevention & Disaster Risk Reduction

Flood/hazard risk map

The Flood Hazard / Risk Mapping product comprises several components ranging from mapping via modelling to damage assessment. The product is suited for application to large territories / river stretches and brings benefit to the stakeholders responsible for flood risk management including preparedness and prevention measures.

Flood Hazard Maps rely on sophisticated inundation modelling (e.g. dam failure / overtopping, clogging) which in turn is based on hydraulic modelling complementing Earth Observation based information (reference / land use maps). Flood Hazard Maps display information about flood prone zones (risk zones) and the impact of specific flooding scenarios (e.g. extreme events).

Flood Risk Maps show the potential adverse consequences associated with flood events and thus allow for a corresponding assessment of estimated damages and losses caused by the disaster. The assessment of damages and losses is based on the combination of land cover / use data and socio-economic statistics per administrative unit, on one hand, and flood extent information on the other. For the latter, actual (current / historic) and/or potential (simulated) flood events are usually consulted.

Flood information system

In connection with the products “Flood Hazard / Risk Mapping” and “Assets Mapping (BEAM product)” the floodserver is an online platform (www.floodrisk.eu) where the final products can be integrated and be provided publicly for information and demonstration purposes. This may also include additional flood relevant products derived from Earth observation data (e.g. flood extent maps) and / or user-supplied ancillary data, if applicable.

Rapid Landslide Mapping

Rapid Landslide Mapping is an assessment product carried out following an emergency caused by the occurrence of landslides and the consequent analysis of multi-temporal measures and optical data supporting the emergency activity. The final map product contains:

• Updated landslide inventory map and/or monitoring of a single phenomenon. A specific technical report with the description of the results is also supplied.
• Monitoring report of a single phenomenon (if applicable): a document describing the analysis carried out, focusing on the comparison between EO data sets with in situ measurements, and landslide hazard assessment.

Basic European Assets Map (BEAM)

The Asset Mapping product offers the integration of socio-economic statistics into land use / cover geo-information products derived from Earth Observation data. The resulting Basic European Assets Map product (BEAM; unit: € / sq m) serves as a sound basis to derive a direct impact assessment and to estimate the consequences of natural and man-made disasters not only on assets (economic damage) but also on the population (affected people, victims).

In general, the concept aims to cover different scales (from European to community level) and to be applicable to several types of risk. The BEAM product specifically addresses the European scale with an approach applicable to almost all countries within Europe.

SAR based reference mapping

Reference mapping at scales 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 is a key challenge to authorities and institutions in many regions of the world. Particularly in tropical regions, the reliable acquisition of data using space-borne or airborne data sources is limited by frequent (or even permanent) cloud coverage, and the fact that vast areas often need to be covered. To date, some remote areas in the Equatorial belt have not been mapped at all; often, available maps date back to the middle of the last century.

Based on data acquired by high-resolution radar satellites, a novel approach to reference mapping projects is offered. The concept is to ensure the rapid availability of new base maps or map updates of high geometric accuracy and thematic quality: a one-stop approach for SAR data acquisition, elevation model generation and map production.