Damage detection in earthquake disasters using high-resolution satellite images

This paper highlights the usefulness and accuracy of high-resolution satellite images in damage detection after the occurrence of natural disasters. A strong earthquake struck the city of Bam in the southeast Iran on 26 December, 2003 and it brought massive destruction to the city and its surrounding rural areas. IKONOS and QuickBird (QB), high-resolution optical satellites, captured clear images of Bam a few days after the event. The city was also observed by QB about three months before the event. First, visual damage interpretation based on the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98) was carried out building by building, comparing the pre-event and post-event QB images. An automated damage detection method developed by the present authors was also applied to the post-event IKONOS and QB images. The results of these damage inspections were compared with field survey data and the accuracy and limitation of visual and automated damage detections were presented.