Geo-referencing EM-DAT: methodology & experiences CRED 27 Oct New York

 CRED objectives for geo-referencing  CRED tools  EM-DAT geocoding approaches  EM-DAT experiences  Conclusions Overview

CRED OBJECTIVES

CRED ACTIVITIES Natural Disaster Research Natural Disaster Research Civil Conflict Research Civil Conflict Research Training and Capacity Building (e.g. APHES Summer Course) Training and Capacity Building (e.g. APHES Summer Course) Database and information support EM-DAT, CE-DAT Database and information support EM-DAT, CE-DAT

EM-DAT: Occurrence & impacts of disasters Natural & technological disasters 1900 to today Geographical locations as text field National resolution CE-DAT: Field Surveys Epidemiological Indicators Mortality Rates, Malnutrition Rates, Vaccination coverages Geocoded using longitude/latitude (up to Admin3, city, camp) => Common denominator? EM-DAT International Disaster database & CE-DAT Complex Emergency database

EM-DAT data format

CRED METHODOLOGY

CRED Geocoding tools  Geo-spatial dataset: Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL) (EC-FAO Food Security Programme) standardization of spatial dataset representing administrative units coding system  CRED GEOCODER interface Locate Lat/long coordinates (WGS 84) Providers: GAUL, Geonames, Google, Yahoo  CRED GAUL interface  Additional geographic information in EM-DAT (river basins,...) => checking of geocodes

CRED GEOCODER interface

CRED GAUL interface

EM-DAT EXPERIENCES

1. Hazard approach (earthquakes)  Epicentre coordinates  Aims: Information provided to user Mapping  Method: Search original data sources and additional sources (USGS, Reliefweb,…)  PROS: currently present in >85% of earthquakes in EM-DAT easily traceable information single coordinates per disaster event  CONS: epicenter not necessarily place of human impact (‘hazard’ vs. ‘disaster’) only valid for limited number of disaster types Explorative approaches (1)

2. ‘Best available geographic data’-approach (CRED, University of Hawaii)  Point coordinates for lowest available level location  Aims: Link to GIS Increase granularity  Method: Disaster located in center point of reported area/location If multiple contiguous locations: single point located in middle If multiple non-contiguous locations: multiple point coordinates attributed  PROS: polygon available of Admin 1  CONS: center point of contiguous admins may fall ‘in the middle of nowhere’ unstandardized Admins (ESRI ArcGIS) no Admin2 level (CE-DAT) Explorative approaches (2)

3. GAUL approach (CRED, Royal Museum for Central Africa)  For each identified location in EM-DAT a GAUL Admin unit is attributed  Aims: Feasibility study and explore information level of EM-DAT Increase granularity Linking EM-DAT & CE-DAT through common denominator (Admin2)  Method: Defining EM-DAT ‘locations’ GAUL-recognized administrative zone, Unrecognized Administrative zone Precise location (town), Broad cardinal indication (East, North,...) Valley, Plateau,... Location coordinates through CRED GEOCODER Lowest level GAUL Admin unit attributed Explorative approaches (3)

3. GAUL approach (continued)  PROS: -polygon approaches the impact area -contiguous locations all included -adapts to different levels of location information -standardized and interoperable with other systems  CONS: -multiple lat/longs for one disaster event -information in EM-DAT sources not always detailed and comprehensive enough -polygon of Admin ≠ disaster footprint -time consuming Explorative approaches (cont)

 Earthquakes worldwide Hazard approach  Natural disasters in African continent (CRED, University of Hawaii) project underway to georeference natural disasters from in Asia, Australia, North America, South America and Europe ‘Best available geographic data’-approach  Natural disasters worldwide in 2008; + Natural disasters in Burundi, Rwanda, DRC (CRED, Royal Museum for Central Africa) GAUL approach Currently geo-coded in EM-DAT

EM-DAT level of information: natural disasters 2008 (1) Floods Admin 1Admin 2 n Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania Total Earthquakes Admin 1Admin 2 n Africa50 2 Americas Asia Europe10002 Oceania.. Total Mass movements (dry + wet) Admin 1Admin 2n Africa Americas Asia Europe..0 Oceania100 1 Total % Admin1 and Admin2 level information in EM-DAT (by disaster type and region)* *Admin1 includes Admin2 N=390

EM-DAT level of information: natural disasters 2008 (1) Floods Admin 1Admin 2 n Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania Total Earthquakes Admin 1Admin 2 n Africa50 2 Americas Asia Europe10002 Oceania.. Total Mass movements (dry + wet) Admin 1Admin 2n Africa Americas Asia Europe..0 Oceania100 1 Total % Admin1 and Admin2 level information in EM-DAT (by disaster type and region)* *Admin1 includes Admin2 N=390

% Admin1 and Admin2 level information in EM-DAT (by disaster type and region)* Storms Admin 1Admin 2n Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania50 2 Total *Admin1 includes Admin2 N=390 EM-DAT level of information: natural disasters 2008 (2) Volcanos Admin 1Admin 2n Africa..0 Americas100 5 Asia100 1 Europe..0 Oceania10001 Total Wildfires Admin 1Admin 2n Africa10002 Americas Asia100 1 Europe..0 Oceania..0 Total100405

*Admin1 includes Admin2 N=390 EM-DAT: overview of level of information Distribution of natural disasters with Admin1 and Admin2 level geographic information in EM-DAT, by region (2008)* Admin 1Admin 2n Asia90%40%146 Europe64%29%28 Oceania62%38%13 Africa82%53%103 Americas89%42%100

Example: Africa in Admin2 resolution

Example: Africa in Admin1 resolution

Example: Africa in Admin0 (national resolution)

 Geocoding of locations useful to increase resolution in EM-DAT  Actual way of recording locations in EM-DAT close to admin1 (without active searching)  Final EM-DAT geocoding protocol still to be agreed on  Work towards disaster footprint Conclusions

CONTACT: CRED 30, C LOS C HAPELLE - AUX -C HAMPS 1200 B RUSSELS – B ELGIUM T EL : /F AX E-M AIL : CRED. BE WWW. CRED. BE THANK YOU ! Acknowledgements: Manuel Albela; José Rodriguez (CRED)

From Points to Polygons

EM-DAT level of information: natural disasters 2008 (3) Epidemics Admin 1Admin 2n Africa Americas Asia Europe..0 Oceania..0 Total Extreme temperatures Admin 1Admin 2n Africa..0 Americas10001 Asia10004 Europe50254 Oceania..0 Total Droughts Admin 1Admin 2n Africa Americas100 1 Asia5004 Europe..0 Oceania..0 Total *Admin1 includes Admin2 N=390 % Admin1 and Admin2 level information in EM-DAT (by disaster type and region)*

*Admin1 includes Admin2 N=390 Admin 1 (%)Admin 2 (%)n Droughts Earthquakes Epidemics Extreme temp78119 Floods Mass movements (dry+wet) Storms Volcanos Wildfires EM-DAT: overview of level of information Distribution of natural disasters with Admin1 and Admin2 level geographic information in EM-DAT (2008)*

CRED GAUL interface