Tsunami Damage Area Estimation for the 2010 Maule, Chile Earthquake Using ASTER DEM and PALSAR Images on the GEO Grid

We propose using satellite remote sensing technology with a modified damage detection model based on the regression discriminant function for severe building damage ratios as a method to quickly estimate damaged areas due to tsunamis anywhere in the world. The model was developed using a data set from JERS-1/SAR images of the aftermath of the 1995 Kobe earthquake and its detailed ground-truth data, and was applied to ALOS/PALSAR images acquired before and after the 2010 Maule, Chile earthquake tsunami. The modified model considers the backscattering characteristics of tsunami-damaged buildings and scattered debris in the affected areas and the ground elevation as measured by Terra/ASTER stereoscopic observations. The accuracy of the proposed damage estimation model is examined by comparing it with the results of field survey data and interpretation of high-resolution satellite optical images taken after the event. KeywordsSynthetic Aperture Radar; DEM; Tsunami Damage; ALOS/PALSAR; Terra/ASTER; GEO Grid