On the use of Web-based-GIS for managing and disseminating hazard and risk spatial information in volcanic areas

Abstract

Abstract. In volcanic areas exposed to multiple geological hazards, the efficient interpretation of the increasing amount of geographical data is a challenging issue. Within the European MIAVITA project, we investigated to which extent WebGIS can facilitate this interpretation through the visualization of such complex hazard and risk database. This analysis was structured around (1) the development of a Web-based Geographical Information System (WebGIS) and of an application for managing the geographical database, and (2) interactions with a group of hazard and risk analysts and managers, civil security officers, GIS analysts and system developers. We tested the system in the Mount Cameroon volcano, taking advantage of a complex hazard and risk geographical database collected previously. Key requirements here related to the need for a structured and flexible GIS-database and to manage user's privileges differently according to their profile and the status of the volcano. In addition, this study showed that it is important for such systems to manage different status for data, from data than can only be interpreted by experts (e.g. some complex remote sensing products) to data that can be disseminated to any potential user (e.g. a regulatory hazard map). While the developed tool is able to provide users with enough flexibility to respond to the users' requirements, it is still necessary to own expertise in WebGIS to manage such tools in the long term in local volcano observatory. Nevertheless, this study shows that WebGIS-based systems can relatively easily integrate some most important working procedures of hazard and risk management in volcanic areas.

FOSS (Free Open Source Software) Integration to Implement WebGIS-Based Information System of Kelud Volcano

“…The potential for using WebGIS if compared with the disaster management cycle will have a different impact on each phase. The system is not only relevant to support the prevention and mitigation phases to anticipate in the long term, but it will also provide positive values during the recovery phase after natural disasters [11].…”

“…Figure 1. [11] FOSS (Free Open Source Software) is a software that can be used, changed, and redistributed easily [12]. FOSS offers freedom which is the main key in running programs and modifying them according to the purpose [13].…”