Use of Geospatial Information for Disaster Risk Management in

Myanmar

Zin Mar LwinAssociate Professor

Remote Sensing DepartmentMandalay Technological UniversityMinistry of Science and TechnologyThe Republic of Union of Myanmar

21st FEB 2013

Country Profile of Myanmar• Location: btn 9°32´N and 28°31´N

btn 92°10´E and 101°11´E• Area:676,577 sqkm• Population: over 55 million• Borders: China, Thailand and LaoPDR

in the East, Bangladesh andIndia in the West

• Types of Disaster: Storm(11%)Flood(10%)Fire (71%) others(8%)

• Capital: Nay Pyi Taw

Ministry of Science and Technology(MOST)

• Established on 2nd October 1996• Implementation Programme

- Developing Human resource Sector- Research and Development Sector

• Vice-Chairman of ASEAN-SCOSA from 1st July 2008 to 30th June 2011

• MOST as focal point ministry of ASEAN-SCOSA “Space Technology Utilization for Disaster Risk Reduction Project”

• http://www.most.gov.mm

ASEAN Cooperation Project “Utilization of Space based Technologies on Disaster Risk

Management”

• ASEAN-SCOSA Project• ASEAN Disaster Reduction Center(ADRC), Kobe

Japan• Geo-informatics Centre(GIC), Asian Institute of

Technology(AIT)• Sponsored by Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund(JAIF)

• Module 1: Need survey and Discussion Meeting• Module 2:Development of Educational Materials• Module 3: Conduct 1-Day Seminar• Module 4: Conduct 5-day Technical Training

Program• Module 5: Regional Workshop

Project Content

Module1- Need survey and Discussion Meeting• Date and Time: May 12, 2009• Place: Sedona Hotel, Yangon, Myanmar• Organized by: Ministry of Science

&Technology• 13 Local Participants from 6 different

organizations and Ministries• Summary of discussion

- to identify possible hazard and create hazard map, and for the hazard type Cyclone, Flood and Earthquake to be considered as the three most priorities- Uses of space based technologies in such disaster management/risk reduction area are not in operational level and demonstration is very important to enhance capacities and increase the awareness

Module 2: Development of Education Material

•Introduction to Remote Sensing •Introduction to GIS books

translated by Remote Sensing Department, Ministry of Science and Technology.

translated by Satellite Communication Research Group, Ministry of Science and Technology.

•Global Positioning System(GPS) book

Development of Education Material

• Translated to Myanmar Language• Distributed in 1 day seminar of Module III• 60 representatives from more than 25 organizations• Targeting decision makers from technical and policy making

agencies to bring the awareness on the potentials of space technology

Module III• 1 day seminar entitled “Utilization of Space-based

Technologies for Disaster Risk Management”.• Date and Time: September 10,2010• Place: Royal Kumudra Hotel, Nay Pyi Taw,

Myanmar• Organized by Ministry of Science and Technology• Around 60 representatives from Government

Organizations and non-governmental organizations• Resource Personnel from Geoinformatics

Center/AIT,ADRC, BOSAI International, Japan and Keio University, Japan

Case Study (Nargis Cyclone)

• April 19 to May 14,2010 at GIC/AIT Thailand• Participating Organization

- Dr.Khaing Theingi Oo from Ministry of Science& Technology, Myanmar- Kavinda Gunasekara from GeoInformatics Center, AIT

Objectives• To identify disaster impact on the study area• To produce Maps of Scenario, Vulnerability and Casualty at different

Surge Heights• To contribute a risk reduction approach for more effective integration

at community level• To develop a case study for technical transfer during the 5 day

technical training

• Data UsedASTER DEM/SRTM(NASA), Township boundary layer, Village Tract boundary layer, population at township level and ALOS-PRISM/PALSAR/ANVIR 2 satellite images are used.

Development of Maps

Outcome of Case Study-Model & Methodology Implementation Steps- Transferred during the Scenario- Produced Scenario Map, Vulnerability Map, Casualty Estimation at different surge

heights

Module IV:5 day Technical Training• Date and Time:13th to 17th September,2010• Place: Royal Kumudra Hotel,Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar • Organized by Ministry of Science &Technology • 30 participants from Government and Educational sectors • Mainly focused on usages of remote sensing and GIS disaster

risk mapping

Benefits of the Project

• Fostered know-how in risk reduction perspectives• Become partnership in disaster mitigation• Contributing to the need for inter-departmental and

inter-ministerial coordination and planning for DRM• Strengthen the collaboration and cooperation of

remote sensing and space based technology task force through training and project

• Promoting collaborative activities and projects on space technology and its application

Lessons Learnt

• GIS is essential tool to give up-to-date information to take the appropriate and timely action.

• Strong database is need to analyze and produce detail map (like population in village wise is needed)

• To collect, process and share data effectively at before and after Disaster

• Need more technical training and cooperation projects in local and international

Challenges

• Need to give Technical Trainings of GIS to local staffs(requirement)

• Interconnectivity between ministries and agencies (partnership activity are necessary)

• Lack of public awareness and local knowledge• Capacity of Community response and operation• Relationship between Government ministries and

related departments are very weak• Information exchange is poor• Lack of National GIS based system

Key Recommendation

• Appropriate capacity building programs including seminars, workshops and hands-on training to share the knowledge and experiences

• Providing Near Real time satellite data • To give technical training to related

ministries/department• Need for inter-departmental and inter-ministerial

coordination and planning for DRM