Geospatial applications in emergency impact assessment

Book excerpt: The increasing frequency and intensity of natural hazards including floods, droughts, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, dust storms and wildfires, as well as human-induced crises, including violence and conflicts, oil spills, dam failures, toxic wastes, industrial pollution, transport accidents, factory explosions, fires and chemical spills have devastating effects on food security and represent a substantial risk to sustainable agriculture and the livelihoods of people around the world. Thus, much attention has been given to reducing the likelihood of a hazard occurring as well as disaster risk, mitigating impacts and establishing early action and response, quickly and efficiently.