The Use of Space Technologies to Monitor and Respond to Earthquakes Economic Perspective A.M.Eren 1 , W. Peeters 2 , J. Farrow 3 1 International Space University, ahmet.m.eren@gmail.com Parc d'Innovation, 1 rue Jean-Dominique Cassini, 67400, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France 2 International Space University, peeters@isunet.edu Parc d'Innovation, 1 rue Jean-Dominique Cassini, 67400, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France 3 International Space University, farrow@isunet.edu Parc d'Innovation, 1 rue Jean-Dominique Cassini, 67400, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France Abstract- This paper presents the role of space based technologies like remote sensing (RS) and Global Navigation and Satellite Systems (GNSS) for earthquake disaster management. The space based technologies like GNSS and RS applications can help in prediction, preparation, response and recovery phases of the disaster management cycle. After an earthquake mapping the extents of damages, locating the urgency of the areas and reconstruction of these areas can be provided as valuable information by space based solutions to disaster management. Financial and economic aspects of space systems are also presented through a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), and illustrated by a quantitative case study. I. INTRODUCTION Humankind has been subjected to natural disasters throughout history and each year enormous numbers of deaths occur and millions of dollars are lost due to earthquakes. There are a lot of scientific studies going on all over the world to predict earthquakes before they occur but unfortunately there is not a clear model developed to predict earthquakes. The space techniques which can be very helpful in prediction, assessment, mitigation and recovery periods of the earthquake management cycle will be presented. Economic impacts of earthquakes are also discussed throughout the paper and ways to reduce these impacts especially focusing on space techniques will be presented. A simple cost benefit analysis (CBA) will be carried out to show the framework of how to apply CBA to earthquake management to assess the economic viability of space based systems. TABLE I shows the economical impacts and effected population relating them with the countries subjected to earthquakes. Experience has also shown that the difference in the level of vulnerability to hazards in the developed and developing countries is not really in the number and magnitude of occurrence of hazards, but in the level of disaster management - disaster preparedness (risk reduction), mitigation, and emergency responses [1]. Most of the world’s population is located in areas prone to earthquakes. No matter whether it is a developed or underdeveloped country all nations suffer from these earthquake related losses. Earthquake losses or costs can be categorized as: a) Primary Effects: Direct physical damage (to buildings and infrastructures), induced physical damage (including fires, floods, hazardous material release, etc), human impacts (deaths and injuries) b) Secondary effects: costs of recovery and response (inspection costs after the earthquake, relocation of people, first response), business interruption and social and environmental costs. Secondary effects involve business continuity losses and failures. The overview of earthquake disasters shows that these secondary effects seriously complicate the rescue and relief operations, and have great economic and human consequences, which sometimes surpass the direct effects of the earthquakes. TABLE I Earthquake Loss between 1976-2005 in dollar adopted from [2] Country Number of Earthquakes Deaths Public Affected(M) Economic Loss (B$) Japan 28 5.794 3,2 132 Italy 20 5.714 0,7 30 US 21 145 0,06 25 Turkey 38 24.371 6,1 16 Iran 67 100.851 2 10,9 China 82 244.344 20,7 8 Greece 21 340 0,9 7,2 Mexico 20 9.738 2,5 4,7 Afghanistan 24 9.202 0,6 1,7 Indonesia 66 6.496 1,8 0,8