PAKISTAN: Geographic Info System developed

System to improve information access to areas affected by earthquake

Dawn
Monday, November 21, 2005

Peshawar --- The Pakistan Army Survey Group has developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) containing relevant data and information about the magnitude of disaster caused by the earthquake in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir, according to an ISPR press release.

GIS will help to provide the required information about the condition of roads, location and height of villages and population when linked with Nadra and satellite images.

The system will also assist in relief operations and rehabilitation programme. It will also help aid agencies operating in the area by providing them the exact data about the population affected in case the road gets blocked by landslides and snowfall.

The press release said when this system is linked with the Meteorological Department it will provide recommendations and suggestions to aid agencies regarding relief operations to be launched in the affected areas.

The Army Survey Group with the assistance of the Turkish Disaster Management team has completed surveying areas located on the fault line, including Tehsil Mansehra, Dev Ghrain, Kachi Basti, Bafa and Garhi Habibullah, whereas drilling is in progress at Balakot.

The survey will be completed in the affected areas of the NWFP within a week.

Engineers installed high-tech sensors, which had been connected with a computerized laboratory, to study seismic changes in quake-hit areas.

The survey team will also be accompanied by town planners who will suggest as to what type of houses should be constructed in the area.

The army survey group has designed three-dimensional (3-D) models suggesting the layout of the affected area which will assist in the planning of rehabilitation, house designing and training of volunteers.

Date Posted: 11/21/2005