1. Disaster Management and Spatial Data An Experience of Sri Lanka

2. (Provincial Surveyor General – Sri Lanka Survey Department)
by Padma Kumara Withana
(Provincial Surveyor General – Sri Lanka Survey Department)
B.Sc ( Hons. Sri Lanka ) , Higher Dip in Surveying ( ISMD) P.G. Dip in IGP( The Netherlands ) , Training in Remote Sensing ( Italy ) Training in Cadastre Surveying ( Germany )
Provincial Surveyor General Uva Province

3. Out line Introduction Natural Disasters and Sri Lanka
Need of Spatial Data in Natural Disaster
Past Experience
Challenges
Potential
Recommendation

4. Introduction – Location

5. Sri Lanka has a long coastline of 1660 km
Low, mid & up country with a peak about 2300 m
Major Crops
739,903 ha for Paddy cultivation (staple food)
45% - major irrigation
24% - minor irrigation
31% - rain-fed
188,971 ha Tea and 157,100 ha Rubber
103 river basins (20 in wet zone)
320 - dams in Sri Lanka
80 (large in size)
15,000 minor tanks

6. Man Made and man Induced
Disaster
Natural
Man Made and man Induced
Earthquake
Flood & Cyclone
Land Slides
Droughts
Tsunami
Terrorism
Home & Building Fires
Accidents
Structural Collapses

7. Disaster
Geologically Sri Lanka is situated relatively in stable position on the Australian-Indian plate. Due to this the risk of occurring an earthquake is less and also earthquakes have been not recorded over 400 years.

8. Distribution of epicenters of earthquakes greater than magnitude 5
Distribution of epicenters of earthquakes greater than magnitude 5.0 in South East Asia and Indian Ocean

9. Disaster
There is no evidence for volcanic eruptions in the past and there is no sign for it in the future too.
So Sri Lanka is a natural hazard free country! Is it true?

10. Natural Disaster and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is affected by different kinds of natural hazards such as floods, cyclones, droughts, landslides, coastal erosion and Tsunami

11. Natural Disaster and Sri Lanka
Floods:
Major floods are associated with the two monsoons.
Most of tanks spill over during this period

12. Natural Disaster and Sri Lanka
Floods:
South west monsoon season (May-September) the western, southern, Sabragaumuwa provinces are vulnerable.
North-east monsoons (December-February) the eastern, northern and north-central provinces are prone to flooding.

13. Natural Disaster and Sri Lanka
Floods:
Major floods recorded in the years of 1913, 1940, 1947, 1957, 1967, 1968, 1978, 1989, 1992, 2003 and 2011 with severe loss of human lives, properties and the environment

14. Natural Disaster and Sri Lanka
Landslides:
Excessive rainfall, typical landform and geology, deforestation and unplanned land use practices combine to create this natural disaster.
The districts of Badulla Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Kandy and Matale are the most prone to landslides.
In 2003, landslides in Matara,Galle and Hambantota districts caused massive damages to human settlements and the environment.

15. Natural Disaster and Sri Lanka
Cyclones:
The eastern and north-eastern parts of Sri Lanka are highly vulnerable to cyclones especially in the months of November and December.
Some parts of north-central and north-western areas have also subject to occasional cyclone impacts in past decades.
Major cyclones have been experienced in the years 1907, 1922, 1964, 1978, 2000 & 2011 (November)

16. Natural Disaster and Sri Lanka
Tsunami:
Sri Lanka was one of the countries most effected by 2004 Tsunami
More than dead, 1 million people affected and 70, 000 houses were completely damaged
Geophysical experts have identified three possible earthquake locations in Indian Ocean, which could result future Tsunami in Sri Lanka

18. Rail Track after tsunami

19. All distroied but Load Dudhdha ?

20. People affected by different disaster in Sri Lanka
Natural Disaster and Sri Lanka
People affected by different disaster in Sri Lanka

21. Spatial Data in Natural Disaster
In Natural Disaster Management decision makers have to find the answers for three questions such as Who affected? Where affected? And What affected?
Spatial data with spaced based information technology will answers these questions

22. Past Experience in use of Spatial Data
To identify vulnerable areas and to make precautions to people
To identify affected areas with numbers of houses and buildings
To indentify affected Tanks, roads and bridges
To identify potential locations (school, public buildings, etc) which are appropriate for supporting for affected people
To identify area where large numbers of refugees camp can be established based on the terrain condition

23. Past Experience in use of Spatial Data
To determine how many tents will be needed in each refugee camp based on the locations of populations with spatial data
To identify staging areas and incident command posts to provide logistical support for public safety personnel
To identify safety supply route to have access to water and other resources necessary to support large numbers of people
To identify land for resettlement of spatially displaced people
To laid down the safety buffer zones

24. Past Experience – Tsunami
Maps prepared after Tsunami

25. Past Experience – Tsunami
Maps prepared after Tsunami

26. Past Experience – Flood Kaluganga

27. Past Experience – Landslides Sabragamuwa Province

28. Past Experience – Landslides Sabragamuwa Province

29. Challenges Faced Who is responsible for Spatial Data?
Sri Lanka Survey Department?
Incompatibility of data from different institution
Lack of coordination among the institutions
Non availability of timely updated data
No common platform to receive spatial data

30. Potential
Long professional experience of country’s national Mapping agency “Sri Lanka Survey Department” with huge spatial data
Geomatic Education
Institute of Surveying and Mapping, Diyatalawa under Survey Department
Faculty of Geomatic, Sabragamuwa University of Sri Lanka
Professional Institute; Surveyor Institute of Sri Lanka
Human Resource; well trained and qualified people in the department

31. Recommendation
The development of web-based system which facilitates sharing, accessing and use of spatial data in disaster management

32. Recommendation
Space based technologies such satellite images, Global Positioning System(GPS) and satellite communication should be incorporated with disaster risk reduction in real time

33. Recommendation
Geomatic professional people should be upgraded and admired to use new technology in disaster management with spatial data
Researches should be carried in relevant context which exposed to international level

34. Mr. Mohomad Rafeek ( B.Sc )
My Special Thanks To
Dr. Eunhyeuk Kim , KARI ,
&
Mr. Mohomad Rafeek ( B.Sc )
Supdt. Of Surveys

35. Thank You