Disaster management is generally understood to consist of four phases: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. While these phases are all important and interrelated, response and recovery are often considered to be the most critical in terms of saving lives. Response is the acute phase occurring after the event, and includes all arrangements to remove detriments and a long-term inventory of supplies to deal with irreversible damage. The timely provision of geospatial information is crucial in the decision-making process, and can save lives and rescue citizens.

The aim of this volume is to share technological advances that allow wider, faster and more effective utilization of geospatial information in emergency response situations. The volume describes current accomplishments and challenges in providing geospatial information with these attributes, and is organized in six parts:

- Practice and legislation, with a focus on the utilization of geospatial information in recent disaster events, as well as resulting legislative attempts to share and access data.

- Data collection and data products.

- Data management and routing in 3D.

- Emerging technologies, including positioning, virtual reality and simulation models.

- Integration of heterogeneous data.

- Applications and solutions.

This volume is aimed at researchers, practitioners and students who work in the variety of disciplines related to geospatial information technology for emergency response, and represents the very best of current thinking from a number of pioneering studies over the past four years.

Part 1 Practice and legislation

Improving geospatial information in disaster management through action on lessons learned from major events
M.J. Kevany

Legal aspects of using space-derived geospatial information for emergency response, with particular reference to the Charter on Space and Major Disasters
F.G. von der Dunk

Part 2 Data collection and products

Real-time data collection and information generation using airborne sensors
N. Kerle, S. Heuel & N. Pfeifer

Satellite remote sensing for near-real time data collection
Y. Zhang & N. Kerle

Terrestrial mobile mapping towards real-time geospatial data collection
J. Li & M.A. Chapman

Part 3 Data management and routing in 3D

Real time and spatiotemporal data indexing for sensor based databases
S. Servigne & G. Noel

A 3D data model and topological analyses for emergency response in urban areas
J. Lee & S. Zlatanova

Multidimensional and dynamic vehicle emergency routing algorithm based on 3D GIS
Q. Zhu, Y. Li &Y.K. Tor

Part 4 Positioning, virtual reality and simulation

3D positioning systems for emergency response
K. Kolodziej

Virtual Reality for training and collaboration in emergency management
E. Kjems & L. Bodum

Visual analytics in flood forecasting
M. Jern

Part 5 Integration of heterogeneous data

The semantic mismatch as limiting factor for the use of geospatial information in disaster management and emergency response
H. Pundt

CityGML ¿ 3D city models and their potential for emergency response
T.H. Kolbe, G. Gr¿ger & L. Pl¿mer

Integrated emergency management: Experiences and challenges of a national geospatial information provider, Ordnance Survey
C.J. Parker, R. MacFarlane & C. Phillips

Part 6 Applications and solutions

The value of Gi4DM for transport and water management
M.J.M. Grothe, H.C. Landa & J.G.M. Steenbruggen

A decision support system for the preventive evacuation of people in a dike-ring area
K.M. van Zuilekom & M.H.P. Zuidgeest

GIS technology and applications for the fire services
R. Johnson

¿ a welcome contribution to both the disaster management and geographical information science (GIS) discipline. ... written for those who are looking for new research opportunities, or those who are interested in application of state-of-the-art technologies into practice.¿
¿International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 23:1, 131-133.

If there is one microwave remote sensing textbook that you are going to purchase,then make sure that it is this one. ... This is the textbook to which I wish I had had access whilst undertaking my PhD. It is complete, coherent and concise.
¿The Photogrammetric Record 24(126): 199¿201 (June 2009)

¿ useful to advanced students and professionals engaged with the application of geospatial information technology. ¿ an accessible volume that offers a considerable breadth of current knowledge.
¿Disaster Prevention and Management Journal 19.2