Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards

The 16 contributions to this report detail investigations into landslides, floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and groundwater pollution hazards. Methods for predicting extreme events are critically discussed, the emphasis being on the intrinsic complexity of this type of operation, requiring many spatial data, long historical records and sound models of the physical processes involved. Within this context, the potentials and limitations of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are addressed in terms of data acquisition, spatial data structures and modelling for simulation of the causal phenomena. This text is designed to aid investigators in both public and private institutions to evaluate the actual effectiveness of GIS in coping with natural disasters, and to develop new strategies for projects aimed at the assessment and mitigation of the effects of such catastrophic events.