Automatic near-real time flood extent and duration mapping based on multi-sensor Earth Observation data

Abstract

In order to support disaster management activities related to flood situations, an automatic system for near-real time mapping of flood extent and duration using multi-sensor satellite data is developed. The system is based on four fully automatic processing chains for the derivation of the inundation extent from Sentinel-1 and TerraSAR-X radar as well as from optical Sentinel-2 and Landsat data. While the systematic acquisition plan of the Sentinel-1/2 and Landsat satellites allows a continuous monitoring of inundated areas at an interval of a few days, the TerraSAR-X processing chain has to be triggered on-demand over the disaster-affected areas. Beside flood extent masks, flood duration products are generated to indicate the temporal stability and evolution of flood events. The flood monitoring system is demonstrated on a severe flood situation in Mozambique related to cyclone Idai in 2019.