3. Information Management on Natural Disasters and Disaster Reduction

3-6. Disaster Analysis Based on Satellite Information
There are tens of Earth observation satellites going around the orbit at different observation
cycles. These satellites are equipped with various sensors of different wavelength band ranges
and resolutions, and have different observation ranges. Some of the image data collected bythese satellites are made publicly available to facilitate disaster reduction and prevention
activities including analysis and forecasting of disasters (see Table 3-6-1).
Table. 3-6-1 Observation satellite data open to public (by NASDA, 2001)
Japanese Satellite
Satellite Name Sensor NameBand Number

Wavelength Band Range

Effective Life

Observation
FrequencyResolving Power Observation Width

MOS-1, 1b

MESSR
VTIRMSR

441

Visibility・Near-infrared
Visibility・Thermal infrared
Microwave

87.2-96.4

Saved data
Saved data
Saved data

50m
900&2700m
32km

100x90km
1500kmx1Path
320kmx1Path

JER-1

VNIR
SWIRSAR441

Visibility・Near-infrared
Medium infrared
L Band92.9-98.10
92.9-93.12
92.9-98.10

Saved data
Saved data
Saved data

18m18m18m

75x75km75x75km75x75km

ADEOS

AVNIR-Mu
AVNIR-Pa
OCTS

4113Visibility・Near-infrared
Visibility Near-infrared
Visibility～Thermal infrared

96.10-97.6

Saved data
Saved data
Saved data

16m
8m
700m

80x80km80x80km1400km

TRMM

PR
VIRS
TMI

255

Microwave
Visibility～Thermal infrared
Microwave

97.11-

0.75 days
0.33 days
0.33 days

4.3km
2km
6～50km～215km～720km～760kmADEOS-II

GLI
AMSAR

36
8Visibility～Thermal infrared
Microwave

02.03-

4 days4 days

0.25&1km
5～50km1600km1600km

AVNIR-2
PRISM
PALSAR

41
1

Visibility・Near-infrared
Visibility Near-infrared
L Band04.6-

2 days46 days
5 days10m
2.5m
10&100m

70km
70km /35km
20 - 350km

ALOSSAR→

Foreign Satellite
Satellite Name Sensor NameBand Number

EOS-AM1(Economy/Indu MODIS
stry/Commerc ASTERe→）

3614

LANDSAT1.2.3

MSS

LANDSAT-4.5

MSS
TM

447

Wavelength Band Range

Effective Life

Observation
Frequency

Resolving Power Observation Width

Visibility～Thermal infrared
Visibility・Near-infrared、Medium infrared、Thermalinfrared

99.12-

1.5 days
16 days

0.25, 0.5, 1km
15, 30, 90m

2330km
60km

Visibility・Near-infrared

79.1-83.3

Saved data

80m

185x170km

Visibility・Near-infrared
Visibility・Near-infrared、Medium infrared、Thermalinfrared

82.10-

Saved data
16 days

80m
30&120m

185x170km
185x170km

LANDSAT-7

ETM+

8Visibility・Near-infrared

99.4.15-

16 days

15, 30, 60m

185x172km

SPOT-1.2.3

HRV-XS
HRV-P

3
1Visibility・Near-infrared
Visibility Near-infrared

88.5-

3 days3 days20m
10m

60x60km60x60km

SPOT-4

HRV-Xi
HRV-P

4
1

Visibility・Near-infrared
Visibility Near-infrared

98.3-

3 days3 days20m
10m

60x60km60x60km

IRS-1CIRS-1D

PAN
LISS-3

1
5Visibility Near-infrared
Visibility Near-infrared、Medium infrared

95.1297.9-

5 days
5 days

5.8m
23&70m70x70km141x141km

ERS-1 (SAR)
ERS-2 (SAR)AMI

1C Band91.8-00.3
95.4-

Saved data
35 days

30m
30m

80x80km80x80km0

RADARSATSAR

1C Band95.11-

2 days10～100m

2.5-250,000km2

High Resolution Satellite
Satellite Name Sensor NameBand Number

Wavelength Band Range

Effective Life

Observation
Frequency

Resolving Power Observation Width

IKONOS

MULTI
PAN

4
1

Visibility・Near-infrared
Visibility Near-infrared99.9-

3 days3 days4m
1m

11x11km11x11km

EROS-A1PAN

1Visibility Near-infrared

00.12-

2 days1.8m

12.5x12.5km

Quick Bird

MULTIPAN

4
1

Visibility・Near-infrared
Visibility Near-infrared

01.10-

3.5 days
3.5 days

2.5m
0.61cm17～32km15～17km８７

3. Information Management on Natural Disasters and Disaster Reduction

Using satellite data used for analyses of actual disasters, the Disaster Reduction Working
Group of the Satellite Remote Sensing Promotion Committee 1 compiled and published aguidebook on disaster analysis methodology, “Introduction to Satellite Data-based Disaster
Analysis,” on the Web (available in Japanese only at http://www.restec.or.jp/eeoc/bousai/v11.htm) in 2000. The purpose of this web publication was to inform a wide spectrum of people
from municipal government disaster management personnels to the general public how satellite
remote sensing technology is used for disaster reduction, so that satellite data will have a wider
range of applications.
The Web book is so designed that the reader can search and select various examples byanalysis method, chronology, cause, occurrence site, region, satellite, and sensor, to suit hispurposes (see Fig. 3-6-2).
Fig. 3-6-2 Typical Screen Shot of Analysis by Disaster Site

In addition to text data, the Web book contains links to analysis flowcharts, data used foranalyses, and graphic images. For the ease of the user, the structure of the Web book is designed
in a typical textbook style to help understand the use of satellite data (see Fig. 3-6-3).

1An organization established in the Remote Sensing Technology Center, in order to investigate the feasibilities of R & D
programs on remote sensing technology and satellite systems, and to conduct specialist investigations to facilitate planning andcoordination of promotion strategies for wider use of satellite data.

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3. Information Management on Natural Disasters and Disaster Reduction

Fig. 3-6-3 Typical Analysis Process Flowchart

This publication would provide a valuable source of information for disaster management
agency staffs and researchers not only in Japan but also in all Asian countries. ADRC willcontinue its effort to collect academic case studies on disaster reduction, and to enhance andenrich databases on satellite data-based disaster analysis methods. ADRC has acquired the rightto create and release an English version of the Web book in order to contribute to the promotionof disaster reduction activities in member countries. The current version is available on theWebsite of ADRC (http://www.adrc.or.jp/dmweb/index.html).
Moreover, there is a new communications satellite project being promoted by Japan
Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, formerly known as the National Space Development

８９3. Information Management on Natural Disasters and Disaster Reduction

Agency of Japan (NASDA)). The satellite, named Wideband InterNetworking engineering testand Demonstration Satellite (WINDS), is scheduled for launch in 2006. Currently, ADRC,
together with JAXA, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT,formerly known as the Communications Research Laboratory (CRL)), and Diamond Air
Service (DAS), is promoting joint research programs on the application of data from WINDS
and other satellites to early disaster warning and disaster information sharing. The result reportsof these programs will be made available on the Highlights section of the ADRC Website asrequired.

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