Remote Sensing for Natural Hazards Assessment and Control

Download Remote Sensing for Natural Hazards Assessment and Control PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Mdpi AG
ISBN 13 : 9783036568324
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (683 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Remote Sensing for Natural Hazards Assessment and Control by : Paolo Mazzanti

Download or read book Remote Sensing for Natural Hazards Assessment and Control written by Paolo Mazzanti and published by Mdpi AG. This book was released on 2023-02-28 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Each year, natural hazards, such as earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, tsunamis, floods, wildfires, severe storms, and drought, affect humans worldwide, resulting in deaths, suffering, and economic losses. According to insurance broker Aon, 2010-2019 was the worst decade on record for economic losses due to disasters triggered by natural hazards, amounting to USD 3 trillion, which is USD 1 trillion more than for the period of 2000-2009. In 2019, the economic losses from disasters caused by natural hazards were estimated at over USD 200 billion (UNDRR Annual Report, 2019). In this context, remote sensing shows high potential to provide valuable information, at various spatial and temporal scales, concerning natural processes and their associated risks. The recent advances in remote sensing technologies and analysis, in terms of sensors, platforms, and techniques, are strongly contributing to the development of natural hazards research. With this Special Issue titled "Remote Sensing for Natural Hazards Assessment and Control", we proposed state-of-the-art research that specifically addresses multiple aspects on the use of remote sensing (RS) for Natural Hazards (NH). The aim was therefore to collect innovative methodologies, expertise, and capabilities to detect, assess, monitor, and model natural hazards. The present Special Issue of Remote Sensing encompasses 18 open access papers presenting scientific studies based on the exploitation of a broad range of RS data and techniques, as well as focusing on a well-assorted sample of NH types.

Remote Sensing of Natural Hazards

Download Remote Sensing of Natural Hazards PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 1000856119
Total Pages : 464 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (8 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Remote Sensing of Natural Hazards by : Jay Gao

Download or read book Remote Sensing of Natural Hazards written by Jay Gao and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2023-06-16 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents a comprehensive coverage of remote sensing technology used to gather information on 12 types of natural hazards in the terrestrial sphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. It clarifies in detail how to yield spatial and quantitative data on a natural hazard, including its spatial distribution, severity, causes, and the likelihood of occurrence. The author explains multiple methods of attaining data, describes the pros and cons of each method, and encourages readers to choose the best method applicable to their case. The author offers a practical approach to data analysis using the most appropriate methods and software. 1. Covers all major natural hazards including hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and avalanches. 2. Studies each natural hazard holistically, ranging from spatial extent, severity, impact assessment, causes, and prediction of occurrence. 3. Explains different remotely sensed data and the most appropriate method used. 4. Compares different ways of sensing and clarifies the pros and cons of any selected data or their analysis. 5. Provides ample examples of each aspect of a natural hazard studied augmented with graphic illustrations and quality assurance information. All professionals working in the field of natural hazards, senior undergraduate, and graduate students, will find in-depth approaches and sufficient information to become knowledgeable in the methods of yielding and analyzing data provided with remote sensing technology, ultimately providing a deeper understanding of natural hazards.

Remote Sensing for Hazard Monitoring and Disaster Assessment

Download Remote Sensing for Hazard Monitoring and Disaster Assessment PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 9782881248092
Total Pages : 272 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (48 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Remote Sensing for Hazard Monitoring and Disaster Assessment by : Eric C Barrett

Download or read book Remote Sensing for Hazard Monitoring and Disaster Assessment written by Eric C Barrett and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 1991-11-28 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Concern for environment hazards, plus the real or potential disasters they may prompt, is growing fast as populations and living standards rise. Fortunately, at the same time both the science and technology of space-based mapping and monitoring of our terrestrial environment are maturing fast. This book explores the principles and practices of environmental remote sensing, especially the techniques available for data processing, interpretation and analysis. The applicability of remotely sensed data to marine and coastal hazard monitoring and disaster assessment is described and discussed with special reference to problems endemic to he Mediterranean region, including earthquakes, vulcanicity, soil erosion and degradation, vegetation and crop damage, severe weather phenomena, marine conditions, and air and water pollution. This book will be of particular interest to graduate students, scientists and technical officers involved in environmental protection and management, and to national international relief agencies, both in the Mediterranean region itself and elsewhere.

Remote Sensing and GIS Technologies for Monitoring and Prediction of Disasters

Download Remote Sensing and GIS Technologies for Monitoring and Prediction of Disasters PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3540792597
Total Pages : 270 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (47 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Remote Sensing and GIS Technologies for Monitoring and Prediction of Disasters by : Shailesh Nayak

Download or read book Remote Sensing and GIS Technologies for Monitoring and Prediction of Disasters written by Shailesh Nayak and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-07-16 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lessons learned in the last several years have given clear indications that the prediction and efficient monitoring of disasters is one of the critical factors in decision-making process. In this respect space-based technologies have the great potential of supplying information in near real time. Earth observation satellites have already demonstrated their flexibility in providing data to a wide range of applications: weather forecasting, person and vehicle tracking, alerting to disaster, forest fire and flood monitoring, oil spills, spread of desertification, monitoring of crop and forestry damages. This book focuses on a wider utilisation of remote sensing in disaster management. The discussed aspects comprise data access/delivery to the users, information extraction and analysis, management of data and its integration with other data sources (airborne and terrestrial imagery, GIS data, etc.), data standardization, organisational and legal aspects of sharing remote sensing information.

Natural Hazards

Download Natural Hazards PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 1351681206
Total Pages : 506 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (516 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Natural Hazards by : Ramesh Singh

Download or read book Natural Hazards written by Ramesh Singh and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2018-03-22 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the years, the interactions between land, ocean, biosphere and atmosphere have increased, mainly due to population growth and anthropogenic activities, which have impacted the climate and weather conditions at local, regional and global scales. Thus, natural hazards related to climate changes have significantly impacted human life and health on different spatio-temporal scales and with socioeconomic bearings. To monitor and analyze natural hazards, satellite data have been widely used in recent years by many developed and developing countries. In an effort to better understand and characterize the various underlying processes influencing natural hazards, and to carry out related impact assessments, Natural Hazards: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Landslides, presents a synthesis of what leading scientists and other professionals know about the impacts and the challenges when coping with climate change. Combining reviews of theories and methods with analysis of case studies, the book gives readers research information and analyses on satellite geophysical data, radar imaging and integrated approaches. It focuses also on dust storms, coastal subsidence and remote sensing mapping. Some case studies explore the roles of remote sensing related to landslides and volcanoes. Overall, improved understanding of the processes leading to these hazardous events will help scientists predict their occurrence. Features Provides information on the physics and physical processes of natural hazards, their monitoring and the mapping of damages associated with these hazards Explains how natural hazards are strongly associated with coupling between land–ocean–atmosphere Includes a comprehensive overview of the role of remote sensing in natural hazards worldwide Examines risk assessment in urban areas through numerical modelling and geoinformation technologies Demonstrates how data analysis can be used to aid in prediction and management of natural hazards

Human Cost of Disasters

Download Human Cost of Disasters PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : United Nations
ISBN 13 : 9210054474
Total Pages : 28 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (1 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Human Cost of Disasters by : United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Download or read book Human Cost of Disasters written by United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and published by United Nations. This book was released on 2020-11-03 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The last twenty years has seen the number of major floods more than double, from 1,389 to 3,254, while the incidence of storms grew from 1,457 to 2,034. Floods and storms were the most prevalent events. The report “The Human Cost of Disasters 2000-2019” also records major increases in other categories including drought, wildfires and extreme temperature events. There has also been a rise in geo-physical events including earthquakes and tsunamis which have killed more people than any of the other natural hazards under review in this report.

Natural Hazards

Download Natural Hazards PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN 13 : 1789840856
Total Pages : 278 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (898 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Natural Hazards by : John P. Tiefenbacher

Download or read book Natural Hazards written by John P. Tiefenbacher and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2019-08-28 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Natural Hazards - Risk, Exposure, Response, and Resilience demonstrates advanced techniques to measure risks, exposures, responses, and solutions to hazards in an array of communities. Eleven original research reports by international scholars on hazard assessment and management are organized into four sections: studies assessing risk using in-depth modeling and technological detection to provide insight into problems associated with earthquakes, torrential rains, and nuclear power plant safety; studies revealing the spatial distributions of exposure and impacts from an assortment of hazards; studies examining human response to increased awareness of the patterns of hazard; and a study demonstrating assessment of resilience of sociotechnological systems to natural hazards. This volume contributes new conceptual and practical commentaries to assess, mitigate, and plan for disasters.

Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards

Download Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9401584044
Total Pages : 341 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (15 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards by : Alberto Carrara

Download or read book Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards written by Alberto Carrara and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-04-17 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 16 contributions to Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards report on GIS investigations into landslides, floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and groundwater pollution hazards. Current methods for predicting extreme events are critically discussed, the emphasis being on the intrinsic complexity of this type of operation, requiring many spatial data, long historical records and sound models of the physical processes involved. Within this context, the potentials and limitations of GIS are addressed in terms of data acquisition, spatial data structures and modelling for simulation of the causal phenomena. Geographic Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards will help investigators in both public and private institutions to evaluate the actual effectiveness of GIS in coping with natural disasters, and to develop new strategies for projects aimed at the assessment and mitigation of the effects of such catastrophic events.

Global Changes and Natural Disaster Management: Geo-information Technologies

Download Global Changes and Natural Disaster Management: Geo-information Technologies PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319518445
Total Pages : 228 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (195 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Global Changes and Natural Disaster Management: Geo-information Technologies by : Saied Pirasteh

Download or read book Global Changes and Natural Disaster Management: Geo-information Technologies written by Saied Pirasteh and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-03-15 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents ongoing research and ideas related to earth observations and global change, natural hazards and disaster management studies, with respect to geospatial information technology, remote sensing, and global navigation satellite systems. Readers will discover uses of advanced geospatial tools, spatiotemporal models, and earth observation systems. Chapters identify the international aspects of the coupled social, land and climate systems in global change studies, and consider such global challenges as agriculture monitoring, the smart city, and risk assessment. The work presented here has been carefully selected, edited, and peer reviewed in order to advance research and development, as well as to encourage innovative applications of Geomatics technologies in global change studies. The book will appeal not only to academicians, but also to professionals, politicians and decision makers who wish to learn from the very latest and most innovative, quality research in this area of global change and natural disaster management. /divContributions are drawn from revised submissions based on state-of-the-art papers from the 7th GiT4NDM - 5th EOGC, 2015 event.

Remote Sensing and GIScience

Download Remote Sensing and GIScience PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3030550923
Total Pages : 270 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (35 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Remote Sensing and GIScience by : Pavan Kumar

Download or read book Remote Sensing and GIScience written by Pavan Kumar and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-09-28 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book covers several themes related to forestry, agriculture, water, soil, urban, and atmospheric research. GIScience technology systems have increased in significance in recent decades and have the ability to acquire information at ground level with a higher spectral resolution using a field radio-spectrometer, which is a great improvement compared to other remote sensing systems. GIScience technology systems are widely used for solving and understanding the concept of forestry, crop, water resources, and related research themes. This book aims to advance the scientific understanding of GIScience technology and applications. The chapters present GIScience data integration with other sources such as LiDAR, Multi-spectral data and their applications in forestry, crop assessment, soil assessment, mineral mapping and related themes. The book will be of interest to geospatial experts, modellers, foresters, agricultural scientists, hyperspectral remote sensing and space community, ecologists and conservation communities, environmental consultants, big data compilers, and computing experts.

Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards

Download Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9789048186990
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (869 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards by : Peter T. Bobrowsky

Download or read book Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards written by Peter T. Bobrowsky and published by Springer. This book was released on 2013-04-03 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Few subjects have caught the attention of the entire world as much as those dealing with natural hazards. The first decade of this new millennium provides a litany of tragic examples of various hazards that turned into disasters affecting millions of individuals around the globe. The human losses (some 225,000 people) associated with the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the economic costs (approximately 200 billion USD) of the 2011 Tohoku Japan earthquake, tsunami and reactor event, and the collective social impacts of human tragedies experienced during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 all provide repetitive reminders that we humans are temporary guests occupying a very active and angry planet. Any examples may have been cited here to stress the point that natural events on Earth may, and often do, lead to disasters and catastrophes when humans place themselves into situations of high risk. Few subjects share the true interdisciplinary dependency that characterizes the field of natural hazards. From geology and geophysics to engineering and emergency response to social psychology and economics, the study of natural hazards draws input from an impressive suite of unique and previously independent specializations. Natural hazards provide a common platform to reduce disciplinary boundaries and facilitate a beneficial synergy in the provision of timely and useful information and action on this critical subject matter. As social norms change regarding the concept of acceptable risk and human migration leads to an explosion in the number of megacities, coastal over-crowding and unmanaged habitation in precarious environments such as mountainous slopes, the vulnerability of people and their susceptibility to natural hazards increases dramatically. Coupled with the concerns of changing climates, escalating recovery costs, a growing divergence between more developed and less developed countries, the subject of natural hazards remains on the forefront of issues that affect all people, nations, and environments all the time. This treatise provides a compendium of critical, timely and very detailed information and essential facts regarding the basic attributes of natural hazards and concomitant disasters. The Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards effectively captures and integrates contributions from an international portfolio of almost 300 specialists whose range of expertise addresses over 330 topics pertinent to the field of natural hazards. Disciplinary barriers are overcome in this comprehensive treatment of the subject matter. Clear illustrations and numerous color images enhance the primary aim to communicate and educate. The inclusion of a series of unique “classic case study” events interspersed throughout the volume provides tangible examples linking concepts, issues, outcomes and solutions. These case studies illustrate different but notable recent, historic and prehistoric events that have shaped the world as we now know it. They provide excellent focal points linking the remaining terms in the volume to the primary field of study. This Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards will remain a standard reference of choice for many years.

Natural Disasters and Their Mitigation

Download Natural Disasters and Their Mitigation PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 206 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Natural Disasters and Their Mitigation by :

Download or read book Natural Disasters and Their Mitigation written by and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contributed papers presented at a workshop organized by Indian Institute of Remote Sensing at Dehra Dun, India, Oct. 1999.

Natural Hazards GIS-Based Spatial Modeling Using Data Mining Techniques

Download Natural Hazards GIS-Based Spatial Modeling Using Data Mining Techniques PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319733834
Total Pages : 296 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (197 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Natural Hazards GIS-Based Spatial Modeling Using Data Mining Techniques by : Hamid Reza Pourghasemi

Download or read book Natural Hazards GIS-Based Spatial Modeling Using Data Mining Techniques written by Hamid Reza Pourghasemi and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-12-13 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This edited volume assesses capabilities of data mining algorithms for spatial modeling of natural hazards in different countries based on a collection of essays written by experts in the field. The book is organized on different hazards including landslides, flood, forest fire, land subsidence, earthquake, and gully erosion. Chapters were peer-reviewed by recognized scholars in the field of natural hazards research. Each chapter provides an overview on the topic, methods applied, and discusses examples used. The concepts and methods are explained at a level that allows undergraduates to understand and other readers learn through examples. This edited volume is shaped and structured to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of all covered topics. It serves as a reference for researchers from different fields including land surveying, remote sensing, cartography, GIS, geophysics, geology, natural resources, and geography. It also serves as a guide for researchers, students, organizations, and decision makers active in land use planning and hazard management.

Sustainable Natural Hazard Management in Alpine Environments

Download Sustainable Natural Hazard Management in Alpine Environments PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 364203229X
Total Pages : 410 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (42 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Sustainable Natural Hazard Management in Alpine Environments by : Eric Veulliet

Download or read book Sustainable Natural Hazard Management in Alpine Environments written by Eric Veulliet and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-10-03 with total page 410 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the recent past a marked increase of the damages caused by natural hazard processes has been documented, for example by the Munich Re-Insurance. On a regional scale, a similar development can be observed in mountain regions such as the Alps, where it is particularly a rise in flood events that has caused the maximum amount of economic damage. Three major aspects may help to explain this phenomenon: The changing frequency-magnitude relationship of the natural hazard processes, the multiplication of the damage potential due to the socio-economic change, and the non-adequate way of coping with the changing risk by the official authorities. As a consequence, this book tries to address key questions related to these developments and to give answers to these problems. Question 1: How can the strategies for coping with the rise in extreme flooding be improved? Question 2: How can the damage potential and other socio-economic aspects be quantified? Question 3: How can new computer based technologies contribute to minimizing the risks related to alpine natural hazards? An initial chapter gives an overview of the global change aspects of natural hazards and their related risks. While three chapters outline answers to question 1, four chapters discuss question 2. Five chapters give examples of new technologies.

Proceedings of International Conference on Remote Sensing for Disaster Management

Download Proceedings of International Conference on Remote Sensing for Disaster Management PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319772767
Total Pages : 873 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (197 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Proceedings of International Conference on Remote Sensing for Disaster Management by : Peddada Jagadeeswara Rao

Download or read book Proceedings of International Conference on Remote Sensing for Disaster Management written by Peddada Jagadeeswara Rao and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-06-23 with total page 873 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The natural disasters are the killer agents which can/can't be predicted even though we have modern technology. Every year, in one place or another, disasters striking which is devastating the area and surroundings, leading to ecological disruption besides huge loss of life and property. India is vulnerable to cyclones, landslides/avalanches, earthquakes, floods, droughts, forest fires, epidemics, etc. The 5700-km long coast of India, with its dense population is vulnerable to cyclones/low depressions, tsunamis, etc. The 2400-km long rugged Himalayan terrain is vulnerable to landslides, avalanches and earthquakes. India is not only vulnerable to natural disasters, it is also experiencing industrial accidents. The Bhopal Gas tragedy is one of the major man-made disasters in the world. The state of Andhra Pradesh has 970-km long coastline with two major rivers, etc. The conference is conducted in Visakhapatnam, is famous for industries and tourism. Recently, several industrial accidents took place, besides major natural disasters like Hud-Hud, etc. Disaster management shall be implemented from the grass root level in vulnerable areas to improve the capacity building, so as to minimize the losses. The capacity building coupled with technology results in reduction of loss of life and property.

Remote Sensing of Hydrometeorological Hazards

Download Remote Sensing of Hydrometeorological Hazards PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 1498777597
Total Pages : 551 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (987 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Remote Sensing of Hydrometeorological Hazards by : George P. Petropoulos

Download or read book Remote Sensing of Hydrometeorological Hazards written by George P. Petropoulos and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2017-11-02 with total page 551 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Extreme weather and climate change aggravate the frequency and magnitude of disasters. Facing atypical and more severe events, existing early warning and response systems become inadequate both in scale and scope. Earth Observation (EO) provides today information at global, regional and even basin scales related to agrometeorological hazards. This book focuses on drought, flood, frost, landslides, and storms/cyclones and covers different applications of EO data used from prediction to mapping damages as well as recovery for each category. It explains the added value of EO technology in comparison with conventional techniques applied today through many case studies.

Social Sensing and Big Data Computing for Disaster Management

Download Social Sensing and Big Data Computing for Disaster Management PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1000261530
Total Pages : 233 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (2 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Social Sensing and Big Data Computing for Disaster Management by : Zhenlong Li

Download or read book Social Sensing and Big Data Computing for Disaster Management written by Zhenlong Li and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-12-17 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Social Sensing and Big Data Computing for Disaster Management captures recent advancements in leveraging social sensing and big data computing for supporting disaster management. Specifically, analysed within this book are some of the promises and pitfalls of social sensing data for disaster relevant information extraction, impact area assessment, population mapping, occurrence patterns, geographical disparities in social media use, and inclusion in larger decision support systems. Traditional data collection methods such as remote sensing and field surveying often fail to offer timely information during or immediately following disaster events. Social sensing enables all citizens to become part of a large sensor network which is low cost, more comprehensive, and always broadcasting situational awareness information. However, data collected with social sensing is often massive, heterogeneous, noisy, and unreliable in some aspects. It comes in continuous streams, and often lacks geospatial reference information. Together, these issues represent a grand challenge toward fully leveraging social sensing for emergency management decision making under extreme duress. Meanwhile, big data computing methods and technologies such as high-performance computing, deep learning, and multi-source data fusion become critical components of using social sensing to understand the impact of and response to the disaster events in a timely fashion. This book was originally published as a special issue of the International Journal of Digital Earth.