Use of remote sensing and GI S in disaster management in Gangtok area, Sikkim Ashok Kumar Sharma & Varun Joshi Disaster Management Faculty-Sikkim, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development Sikkim Unit, Gangtok. K. Kumar G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora. Abstract Geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) are very useful and effective tools in disaster management. Various disasters like earthquakes, landslides, floods, fires, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and cyclones are natural hazards that kill lots of people and destroy property and infrastructures every year. Landslides are the most regular geological vulnerabilities in mountain regions, particularly in Sikkim Himalaya. Remotely sensed data can be used very efficiently to assess severity and impact of damage due to these disasters. In the disaster relief phase, GIS, grouped with global positioning system (GPS) is extremely useful in search and rescue operations in areas that have been devastated and where it is difficult to find one’s bearings. Disaster mapping is the drawing of areas that have been through excessive natural or man-made troubles to the normal environment where there is a loss of life, property and national infrastructures. I ntroduction GIS and remote sensing are incredibly useful and effective tools in disaster management. These technologies have been the object of substantial interest for all countries and bodies concerned with space and in exacting emergency services and disaster management. In disaster management, the objectives of the disaster experts are to monitor the situation, simulate the complicated disaster occurrence as accurately as possible so as to come up with better prediction models, suggest appropriate contingency plans and prepare spatial databases. Remotely sensed data can be used very effectively for quickly assessing severity and impact of damage due to, earthquakes, landslides, flooding, forest fires, cyclones and other disasters. During the disaster prevention stage, GIS is used in managing the huge levels of data required for vulnerability and hazard assessment. In the disaster preparedness stage, it is a tool for planning evacuation routes, designing centres for emergency operations, and for the integration of satellite data with other relevant data in the design of disaster warning systems. In the disaster relief phase, GIS, in combination with GPS, is extremely useful in search and rescue operations in areas that have been devastated and where it is difficult to find one’s bearings. In the disaster rehabilitation stage, GIS is used to organise the damage information and post-disaster census information and in the evaluation of sites for reconstruction. Natural hazard information should be included routinely in developmental planning and investment projects preparation. They should include cost/benefit analysis of investing in hazard mitigation measures and weigh them against the losses that are likely to occur if these measures are not taken. GIS can play a role at the following levels: National level • State level • District level • Block level • Ward or village level • Site investigation scale • Disaster management The application of remote sensing and GIS has become a well developed and successful tool in disaster management, as we have our location observation programmes and the requisite for hazard mitigation and monitoring rank high in the planning of new satellites. GIS allows for the combination of different kinds of data using models. It allows for the combination of the Page 1 of 5 Use of remote sensing and GIS in disaster management in Gangtok area, Sikkim 4/27/2010 http://beta.gisdevelopment.net/index.php?view=article&catid=145%3Anatural-hazard-man...