ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: In this chapter we review existing airborne platforms and sensors, as well as the products that can be generated from the data they acquire, and assess their utility in the context of emergency response. Airborne remote sensing has a much longer history then satellite-based Earth observation, which has led to the development of a wide variety of vehicles that can carry different sensors, ranging from tethered balloons to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that operate at stratospheric heights. We base our evaluation on a number of objective assessment criteria that include technical and commercial aspects, as well as various considerations for emergency response, such as required processing time or use for a given disaster type. We specifically show how different emergencies can lead to a range of observable consequences that call for suitably adapted remote sensing tools, and how more sophisticated products, e.g. 3D or 4D, or integrated in a GIS environment, can lead to improved response capability. We review the use of optical, thermal, laser scanning and radar data, and show how they are best suited for different disaster scenarios. Thus the decision on which data type or product to use in a given emergency situation is a multi-criteria problem that requires good understanding of the available information types, their utility for the disaster in question, but also practical and flexible thinking to identify potential alternatives. We show that airborne remote sensing has great potential to aid in an emergency situation, though also note that the provision of value-added products within the 3 day response window we consider here will not always be possible. We conclude with a table that summarises the relevant characteristics of the main remote sensing data types and products with respect to their suitability for different disaster types, which can serve as guidance for decision makers.
