Rapid geospatial assessment after the earthquake in Syrian Arab Republic in 2023
In February 2023, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck northern and western Syria, wreaking havoc on infrastructure, agriculture, and communities. A swift geospatial impact assessment was performed in the hardest-hit region, utilizing satellite imagery, remote sensing, and diverse data sources. By employing the Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) and a hexagonal grid system for enhanced analysis, the study meticulously evaluated the earthquake's effects on people, infrastructure, and cropland. The assessment revealed that approximately 942,262 individuals, constituting 7% of the population, were likely impacted by the disaster. Particularly affected were districts like Elbistan, Battalgazi, Yesilyurt, Pozanti, and Golbasi. The research identified 110 km² of damaged built-up areas, with Jebel Saman, Al Ma'ra, Menbij, Al Bab, and A'zaz among the most affected districts. Moreover, irrigated cropland in districts such as Afrin, Ain Al Arab, A’zaz, As-Salamiyeh, and Al Ma’ra suffered considerable exposure. Notably, the study highlighted the dire effects on irrigation infrastructures, particularly wells in districts like Tartous, Lattakia, and As-Salamiyeh, waterways in As-Suqaylabiyah and Jisr-Ash-Shugur, and dams in Bahlolieh, Mzair'a, and Safita. The assessment’s findings underscore the need for field data collection, agronomic advice, and robust response planning. Looking ahead, enhancing spatial information for assessing natural resources, irrigation infrastructure, and agriculture, through methods like high-resolution satellite imagery and accuracy assessment, could yield significant benefits. The assessment's results also emphasize the importance of establishing a national geospatial database and monitoring platform for irrigated land, thereby fostering more effective disaster preparedness and response strategies.
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| Format: | Book (stand-alone) biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
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FAO ;
2023
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| Online Access: | https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cc7549en http://www.fao.org/3/cc7549en/cc7549en.pdf |
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