A Multimodal Remote Sensing System for Improved Decision-Making in Earthquake Response

Abstract

In the event of an earthquake, information on damage and the need for assistance is often unclear, as familiar communication and transport routes may be interrupted. DLR designed a technical solution to assess situations in the aftermath of disasters as fast and as automatically as possible by using aerial remote sensing. Current information from the damaged area is provided by a remote-controlled drone, DLR’s Dornier 228-101, which is equipped with an optical aerial camera system. The system tailored to disaster operations is able to record, process, and transmit aerial images to the ground in real time. Satellite data can be used additionally as a reference source for area-wide information. This setup was assessed for earthquake response in a realistic but secured trial environment to identify opportunities for further development. Complemented by AI image analysis, this solution shows benefits for information procurement during emergency response. Besides, 3D mapping derived from this campaign has been applied in parallel during a full-scale exercise to test new ways of cooperation between on-site response and remote-control centres during international assistance operations. Both attempts of applying a new solution in a realistic test scenario are presented and discussed in this chapter from a technology provider’s perspective.