3-3. Applying Space-Based Technology andInformation and Communication Technology toStrengthen Disaster Resilience3-3-1. Sentinel Asia
(1) Objective
ADRC continues to participate in the Sentinel Asia project. The project was launched in 2006
with an objective of establishing a disaster risk management system by making the use ofsatellite images in Asia. ADRC serves as the focal point to receive emergency observation
requests from DRR organizations in the framework of the Sentinel Asia. ADRC then examine
whether the request is appropriate or not and whether the emergency observation should be
implemented mainly for the assessment of damages and casualties or not, and forward therequests to five space agencies, namely, the ISRO (India), the JAXA (Japan), the GISTDA(Thailand), the KARI (Korea), NARL (Taiwan), CRISP (Singapore) participating in theSentinel Asia Project.
In accordance with the Cooperation Agreement between the United Nations Office for Outer
Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and ADRC signed on 4 June 2009 on the establishment of ADRC
UN-SPIDER Regional Support Office, ADRC UN-SPIDER Regional Support Office has been
established within ADRC premises and operated by ADRC staff members as coordinators ofADRC UN-SPIDER RSO.
ADRC, as a UN-SPIDER RSO, should thus work toward ensuring the successful completionof the UN-SPIDER Work Plan thereby facilitating countries in Asia to have access to anddevelop the capacity to use space-based information to support the full disaster management
cycle.

Fig. 3-3-1

Flow of emergency observation28

3. Collection and Dissemination of Disaster Information(2) Implementation of Sentinel Asia Step3
A step-by-step approach for the implementation of Sentinel Asia was adopted as follows:
Step1: Implementation of the backbone Sentinel Asia data dissemination system
Step2: Expansion of the dissemination backbone with new satellite communication systems
Step3: Establishment of a comprehensive disaster management support system
At APRSAF-19 (Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum, APRSAF) held in Kuala
Lumpur in December 2012, successful completion of Sentinel Asia Step2 was declared.
Sentinel Asia Step3 has the following concept, based on experiences in Step2 and user
requirements.
- A basic continuation of Step2 activities- Expansion from response (in Step1 and Step2) to cover the mitigation/preparedness andrecovery phases in the disaster management cycle (Fig. 3-3-1)- Participation of various satellites: earth observation satellites, communication satellites,
and navigation satellites- Further collaboration for operation- Further utilization of human networking through capacity building and outreachFig. 3-3-2

Concept of Sentinel Asia Step329

(3)Emergency Observation Activities for this year
Despite the year to year changes in the number of requests, the ratio of activated numbers

remains stable at around 80%. After a peak of 2010-2011, however, the number of requests
reduced after ALOS, a laser sensor had stopped in May 2011, which might had affected thenumber of requests. From January to December 2015, twenty-five emergency observations
were requested, twenty-four of which were undertaken, after the operation of ALOS-2, thesucceeding satellite of ALOS had started from November, 2014.

5043454040

35

35

3130
25
2035
33

20
15

18
1624

25

18

19

Request

2524
20
18

Activatoin

1918

Reject15105598662211202007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Fig. 3-3-3

Changes in the number of emergency observation 2007-2016

Looking at the breakdown of type of disaster in 2016, the ratio of flood occupies for morethan one third of the total (Fig. 3-3-).

Oil Spill, 1

Other, 3Flood, 13

Cyclone, 4Volcano, 1
Forest Fire, 1Typhoon, 4Earthquake,5
Landslide, 3

Fig. 3-3-4

Breakdown by type of disaster (2016)30

3. Collection and Dissemination of Disaster Information

3-3-2. Sentinel Asia activities for DRR(1) Sentinel Asia Step 3 and ADRCSentinel Asia STEP 3 has started since 2013 based on expanding human networks and joint
operation coordinated by Joint Project Team of SA, and been employing a wide variety ofsatellites including earth observation satellites, communication satellites and navigation
satellites. The activities have covered all phases of disaster management cycle including not justemergency response but pre-disaster prevention and preparedness phases as well as
post-disaster recovery and reconstruction phases.
ADRC has got support from JAXA and carried out the following tasks to lead SA STEP3
evolution, supporting of establishment and management of steering committee and workinggroups, emphasizing utilization of satellite images for the disaster management organizations
participating in SA.

(2) Contents
Major activities performed by ADRC for Sentinel Asia STEP3 include:
1.

Collaboration for establishing the Steering Committee for work as the secretariat for
SC together with JAXA

2.

1.1

Preparatory coordination for establishing SC

1.2

Support for day to day organization of SC as the secretariat

1.3

Document and report preparation for the meetings

Collaboration for promotion of SA step 3
2.1 Coordination for intensifying cooperation with the disaster management
organization
2.23.

Support for WG organization of such as disaster classification WG

Report in the meetings(3) Progress
ADRC has supported steering committee and WG meetings for SA, mainly hosted by JAXA.
About supporting promotion of SA STEP3, ADRC undertook a questionnaire survey andhearing survey targeting disaster management organizations on the following issue.
Organizational structure of disaster management organizations in the governments ofmember countries



Department/division requiring satellite images including contact details



Working Groups of their interest

Contact points in case of disasters, including those of local offices, if any

The outcome of this survey has been made accessible on the web of JAXA.

31

3-3-3. Applying Space-Based Technology and Information andCommunication Technology to Strengthen DisasterResilience(1) Background and Objectives
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has initiated a regional capacity development technicalassistance on Application of Satellite Based Technology (SBT) and Internet andCommunication Technology (ICT) at local government and community levels in a morecost-effective manner. This project aims to support Armenia, Bangladesh, Fiji and thePhilippines by improving local capacity to collect reliable and timely disaster-related data
facilitating post-disaster response, recovery and reconstruction efforts, leading to strengthening
disaster resilience of the target country/region. ADRC has joined this project as CBDRM
Specialist.

(2) Overall methodology
Community based hazard mapwhichcanbeeasily

shared

byon

paper

providesdiverselocalinformation,digitalization. Electric map facilitates also sharing

micro-regional information rapidly in case of disaster. In addition, by overlaying the satellite
imagery, disaster history in the area and overall disaster images can be easily shared with,facilitating rapid and effective disaster response.
The overall approach and methodology (See Figure 3-3-5) includes:i) community-based OSM base map development;ii) community based hazard/risk and evacuation routes mapping;iii) crisis mapping;iv) utilization of satellite -based damage assessment;v) data management using GIS at local governments; andvi) utilization of data at the community level for disaster risk reduction, response andrecovery.

32

3. Collection and Dissemination of Disaster Information

Fig. 3-3-5. Overall methodology(3) Project periodThe project period is from October 2015 to July 2017.
In December 2015,the regional kick-off meeting with the governmental officials of four pilot
project countries (Armenia, Bangladesh, Fiji, and Philippines) was held at AIT, Thailand.
Throughout 2016, map data and other relevant data were prepared and town-watching training
were organized in each country. The software that was developed also during 2016, has beenused for the town-watching and drill from the beginning of 2017. The applications will becompleted by the end of May 2017, and made available for the relevant local authorities so thatthey will be able to get prepared to face future disasters.

(4) Activities at regional and in four pilot project countries
1) Regional kick off meetings
The regional kick off meeting in AIT stated with a side event, the OSM (Open Street Map)
workshop to inform the participants the OSM concept, how to use the application, and goodpractices. International and national consultants participated in it.
Delegates from pilot project countries also participated in the regional kick-off meeting.
After the briefing of the project by ADB, collaborators contributing the project including AIT,ADRC, RESTEC, PASCO, GeoThings reported the status of each pilot project countries as wellas the project targets.

332) Kick-off Meeting and other activities in the pilot project countries
Each pilot project country conducted the kick-off meeting, OSM mapping workshop,Town-Watching workshop, Evacuation drill, Policy making meeting, and the Final meeting.
Additional workshops are scheduled during April to July 2017 in each pilot project country.

(5) Further Contribution to member countries
The application developed as an outcome of this project could be applied to other membercountries in the future and expected to contribute to strengthen DRR at the community level ineach member country.

34