Use of Space Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction in Cambodia Chharom Chin, Deputy Director, Geography Department, Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction
Outlines Natural Disasters in Cambodia Disaster Management and Response Implementation of Space Related Projects in Cambodia Emergency Observation Request 2
Major Natural Disasters Major natural disasters in Cambodia are flood and drought. About 80 percent of the Cambodia s territory lies within the Mekong River, which is known to have large fluctuations of water levels between the dry and wet seasons. 3
Flood in Cambodia The Mekong river basin is under the influence of the monsoon regime which is characterized by great spatial and temporal variability in rainfall distribution. Flood water in Cambodia comes mainly from the upper and middle reaches of the Mekong. While the river reaches its highest peak, local rainfall also intensified adding more water to the swelling river. 4
Drought Disasters In recent years, there has been an imbalance in the distribution of monsoon rainfall which has resulted in drought in some parts of the country A short dry spell of 20 to 30 days during the rainy season ( May November ) can result to extensive damage to crops Prolonged drought was experienced in almost every years. And in 2001, while still recovering from the effects of the flood of 2000, Cambodia was also affected by severe drought 5
Typhoons in Cambodia Occasionally happened and not severely damaged, except in 2009, following the destruction wreaked across the Philippines and Viet Nam, Typhoon Ketsana continued towards the northwest, subsequently striking Cambodia and Lao PDR. The typhoon hit the northern and eastern parts of Cambodia on the evening of Tuesday, 29 September, causing havoc. 6
Disaster Management and Response
National Mapping Agency The Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, particularly the General Department of Cadastre and Geography has nominated as the National Mapping Agency (NMA) It also nominated as the coordinator of the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Space Technology and Applications (SCAOSA) in Cambodia. 8
National Mapping Agency (Cont n) It has been served as secretariat for GIS/RS Task Force for Cambodia to setup a coordination mechanism and improving the communication between the institutions involved in space related activities. Cooperate with others donor agencies in space related activities such as JAXA, KOIKA, JICA, etc. 9
National Mapping Agency (Cont n) The National Mapping Agency is the principal and key partner to provide all necessary, particularly space related information to the National Committee for Disaster Management for their operation of disaster response and management. 10
Disaster Management Agency The National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) is the National Disaster Response and Management in Cambodia. It has offices in commune, district and national level. It coordinate with all Ministries, UN agencies, IOs, NGOs, International Communities, National Associations, and Local Donors in order to appeal for aid for Emergency Response and Rehabilitation. 11
Disaster Management Agency (Cont n) NCDM also makes recommendations to the Royal Government and issue principles, main policies and warnings on Disaster Preparedness and Management cum the measures for Emergency Response and interventions in evacuating people. 12
Other Key Disaster Management Agencies Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) is the key ministry responsible in flood and drought. MOWRAM provides weather forecast, flood warning, and other disasters related to public. Cambodian Red Cross has offices in all provinces and it play very important roles in disaster responses and emergency relief assistances. 13
The Disaster Responses In the event of disaster, NCDM will requests to National Mapping Agency for spatial related information, for example, such as map, satellite imagery, aerial photo of the disaster areas and related location. 14
The Disaster Responses (Cont n) With their extensive spatial database, NMA will enquire of all existing spatial data at local (within the GD and other line agencies) and International sources (e.g. Sentinel Asia) for the requested data. All of the requested data shall be compiled by NMA in a form that can be easily understood and use by NDMC for the purpose of disaster response and management. 15
The Disaster Responses (Cont n) At the same time, NMA will closely working with NCDM to update their spatial data as the work has been progressed. Lesson learned from each activity or disaster event shall document for future reference and improvement 16
Implementation of Space Related Activities
Sentinel Asia Project Cambodia Join APRSAF since 2001 Cambodia is a member of Asia Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) Has participated with Sentinel Asia project since it was started On regular basis, attend all project activities and meetings. 18
JAXA-AIT Mini Projects Cambodia has been participated in development and implementation of mini-projects every year since it has been started in 2006. Most of mini-projects were flood and drought related subject in various flood prone areas in Cambodia. So far, it has been a most successful training program contributing to development of human resources. 19
ASEAN Cooperation Project on Utilization of Space Technologies for Disaster Risks Management Successfully completed all five modules including: Identified and developed drought risk model for Cambodia; Conducted one-day seminar and five-day handon training with all relevant disaster related agencies; Translated the basic GIS, RS and GPS text books into Khmer language and being utilized by University and others institutions Attended the Regional workshop. 20
ASEAN-ADRC Seminar and Training 21
Sentinel Asia System Operation Training Cambodia has competed the SAS operation training in September 2008. Last year 2010, we have requested Emergency Observation for flash flood in Pursat province and Poipet city. 22
Emergency Observation Request for Flash Flood in Cambodia [Emergency Observation Req ID] :ERKHLM000001 [Glide Number] :FF-2010-000206-KHM [Disaster Category] :Flash flood [Country/District] :Cambodia [Disaster Situation] :There were heavy rain since 11 Oct 2010. The accumulation of rainfall from Kravanh mountain catchment causing strong flash flood to all areas along the Pursat rivers. Many thousand of rice land and villagers were flooded including Pursat Town is under emergency. This is our first EOR from Cambodia to Sentinel Asia. 23
Cambodia Flood 24
EOR Data reception and training Lecturers: AIT and ADRC Host: Geography Dept. Participants: NCDM, MAFF, MoWRAM, MLMUPC, MoE, MoP, CARD. 25
Flood in Pursat Province, Cambodia Pre-disaster image Flood in Cambodia Satellite/Sensor: ALOS/AVNIR-2 Data Provider: JAXA 2010/10/19 Post-disaster image Image Interpreter: Geography Department, Cambodia Sentinel Asia
Flood in Pursat Province, Cambodia Pre-disaster image (13 Sep 2009) Post-disaster image (20 Oct 2010) Satellite/Sensor: ALOS/PALSAR Data Provider: JAXA Image Interpreter: Geography Department, Cambodia Sentinel Asia
Lessons Learn from EOR Timely received the images, very good responses. Images have been received while conducting ADRC disaster management hand-on training, which was able to discuss about the images and its usefulness not only with lectures (expert in GIS, RS and Disaster Management) but others agencies involved in disaster related activities. 28
Lessons Learn from EOR The received images proved their usefulness in helping disaster relief coordination and responses. Web based Emergency Observation Request time out is short caused request be made several times. EOR by email and telephone have been used as alternate options. 29
Conclusion EOR provided us good opportunity to learn, share, and awake the usefulness of satellite images contributing to disaster management. Many activities were focused in disaster responses and emergency relief assistances rather than disaster prevention and awareness. Last, thanks to Sentinel Asia provides us assistant. 30
Thank You!