GIScience and Geo-environmental Modelling – serie

Floods and flash floods with hydro-meteorological and tropical cyclones are the some of the most devastating natural disasters causing massive damages to natural and man-made features. Flood hazards are a major threat to human life, properties (agricultural area, yield production, building and homes) and infrastructures (bridges, roads, railways, urban infrastructures, etc). Flood hazards susceptibility mapping (risk assessment) and modelling is an essential step for early warning systems, emergency services, prevention and mitigation of future environmental and social hazards and implementation of risk management strategies. Due to the lack of proper information, technology-based policies and strategies, mapping and modelling can often not be implemented to the best possible level. Geo-spatial techniques have enjoyed rising interest in recent decades among the earth environmental and social sciences research communities for their powerful ability to solve and understand various complex problems and develop novel approaches toward sustainable earth and human society. By linking geo-spatial computational intelligence techniques with societal and environmental-oriented problems, this book demonstrates geospatial technology approaches to data mining techniques, data analysis, modelling, risk assessment and visualization and management strategies in different aspects of flood hazards. We believe that a diverse group of academics, scientists, geographers, hydrologist, remote sensing and GIS expertise, environmentalists, meteorologists and computing experts with a common interest in geospatial sciences within the earth environmental sciences and humanistic and social sciences will find this book to be of great value.

Floods and flash floods with hydro-meteorological and tropical cyclones are the some of the most devastating natural disasters causing massive damages to natural and man-made features. Flood hazards are a major threat to human life, properties (agricultural area, yield production, building and homes) and infrastructures (bridges, roads, railways, urban infrastructures, etc). Flood hazards susceptibility mapping (risk assessment) and modelling is an essential step for early warning systems, emergency services, prevention and mitigation of future environmental and social hazards and implementation of risk management strategies. Due to the lack of proper information, technology-based policies and strategies, mapping and modelling can often not be implemented to the best possible level. Geo-spatial techniques have enjoyed rising interest in recent decades among the earth environmental and social sciences research communities for their powerful ability to solve and understand various complex problems and develop novel approaches toward sustainable earth and human society. By linking geo-spatial computational intelligence techniques with societal and environmental-oriented problems, this book demonstrates geospatial technology approaches to data mining techniques, data analysis, modelling, risk assessment and visualization and management strategies in different aspects of flood hazards. We believe that a diverse group of academics, scientists, geographers, hydrologist, remote sensing and GIS expertise, environmentalists, meteorologists and computing experts with a common interest in geospatial sciences within the earth environmental sciences and humanistic and social sciences will find this book to be of great value.

​To monitor multi-hazards, Remote Sensing and GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques have been extensively used in recent years worldwide. Since natural hazards cannot be eliminated, only quantification of these events and reliable forecasting can alleviate their detrimental effects, through which we can build more resilient and safe societies. Moreover, cultivating the proper knowledge of the multi-hazards and their monitoring and management can fill the gap between science, policy, and the community concerned. In an endeavor to understand and characterize the various hazards, Monitoring and Managing Multi-hazards: A Multidisciplinary approach presents a synthesis of what cross-disciplinary researchers know about these hazards and indigenous adaptation strategies.The book therefore focuses on the use of precision techniques, Remote Sensing, and GIS technologies to quantify various natural, environmental and social hazards along with the capacity building and sustainable mitigation strategies towards resilient societies. It encompasses both thematic and regional case studies to highlight the dynamicity of climate change, change of natural resources, landscape, water, river, agricultural, and social ecosystems at various spatio-temporal scales, including theoretical and applied aspects. The book gives readers an overview and analysis of traditional and advanced geospatial technologies on atmospheric, lithospheric, hydrosphere, biospheric and socio-economic contexts, on all spatial and temporal scales regarding hazards and disasters and sustainable development and management for the future.

​To monitor multi-hazards, Remote Sensing and GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques have been extensively used in recent years worldwide. Since natural hazards cannot be eliminated, only quantification of these events and reliable forecasting can alleviate their detrimental effects, through which we can build more resilient and safe societies. Moreover, cultivating the proper knowledge of the multi-hazards and their monitoring and management can fill the gap between science, policy, and the community concerned. In an endeavor to understand and characterize the various hazards, Monitoring and Managing Multi-hazards: A Multidisciplinary approach presents a synthesis of what cross-disciplinary researchers know about these hazards and indigenous adaptation strategies.The book therefore focuses on the use of precision techniques, Remote Sensing, and GIS technologies to quantify various natural, environmental and social hazards along with the capacity building and sustainable mitigation strategies towards resilient societies. It encompasses both thematic and regional case studies to highlight the dynamicity of climate change, change of natural resources, landscape, water, river, agricultural, and social ecosystems at various spatio-temporal scales, including theoretical and applied aspects. The book gives readers an overview and analysis of traditional and advanced geospatial technologies on atmospheric, lithospheric, hydrosphere, biospheric and socio-economic contexts, on all spatial and temporal scales regarding hazards and disasters and sustainable development and management for the future.

According to UN estimates, approximately nearly half of the world's population now lives in cities and that figure is expected to rise to almost 70% by 2050. Cities now account for around 70% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, and this percentage is predicted to rise in the near future as a result of projected increases in global urbanization patterns. It is widely acknowledged that irrational urban planning and design can increase emissions while also exacerbating threats and risks, resulting in a slew of environmental issues such as urban heat islands, air pollution, flooding, amongst other  issues, as well as environmental, social, and economic losses. Therefore, these concerns must be addressed promptly in order to cope up with these rising difficulties and make urban environments safer for residents. With the advancement of remote sensing technology and the use of current remote observation systems, urban data science, remote sensing, and artificialintelligence (AI), modeling and quantifying emergent difficulties in urban regions and urban systems have become easy. They aid in the quantitative analysis of urban shape, functions, and human behavior in cities. Harvesting data, developing models, and suggesting new methodologies will be aided by combining urban ecology with new breakthroughs in data science. This book is of great value to a diverse group of academicians, scientists, students, environmentalists, meteorologists, urban planners, remote sensing and GIS experts with a common interest in geospatial sciences within the earth environmental sciences, as well as  human and social sciences.

According to UN estimates, approximately nearly half of the world's population now lives in cities and that figure is expected to rise to almost 70% by 2050. Cities now account for around 70% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, and this percentage is predicted to rise in the near future as a result of projected increases in global urbanization patterns. It is widely acknowledged that irrational urban planning and design can increase emissions while also exacerbating threats and risks, resulting in a slew of environmental issues such as urban heat islands, air pollution, flooding, amongst other  issues, as well as environmental, social, and economic losses. Therefore, these concerns must be addressed promptly in order to cope up with these rising difficulties and make urban environments safer for residents. With the advancement of remote sensing technology and the use of current remote observation systems, urban data science, remote sensing, and artificialintelligence (AI), modeling and quantifying emergent difficulties in urban regions and urban systems have become easy. They aid in the quantitative analysis of urban shape, functions, and human behavior in cities. Harvesting data, developing models, and suggesting new methodologies will be aided by combining urban ecology with new breakthroughs in data science. This book is of great value to a diverse group of academicians, scientists, students, environmentalists, meteorologists, urban planners, remote sensing and GIS experts with a common interest in geospatial sciences within the earth environmental sciences, as well as  human and social sciences.

This book presents research on landscape ecology and the relationship between humans and wildlife. It helps readers understand how ecological patterns and processes are interconnected. This research illustrates and proposes (practicable) management strategies toward long-term ecological restoration and mitigation of consequences of conflict. Increasing wildlife activities in localities and forest fringes are an alarming issue. Ecological processes like movement, colonization, extinction and conflict issues depend on the landscape and ecological activities, the movement for example of migratory elephants and their colonization not only affects society but the wildlife and biodiversity too. Strategic management measures can contribute to enriching the biodiversity, habitat quality as well as landscape, while minimizing human-wildlife conflicts. This book describes landscape ecological patterns and processes, habitat dominancy, habitat dependency, suitability, connectivity andcorridor selection. To synthesize these patterns and processes, several ecological indices are used. Use of geo-spatial techniques improves future management strategies for similar circumstances, especially, related to forest regeneration and forest restoration.This book provides a concise overview to a wide range of readers including postgraduate students, researcher, academics, landscape planners, decision makers and even local populations. The techniques and management strategies described should help planners to improve forest management, by implementing quality enhancement programs such as plantation area selection and corridor selection.

This book presents research on landscape ecology and the relationship between humans and wildlife. It helps readers understand how ecological patterns and processes are interconnected. This research illustrates and proposes (practicable) management strategies toward long-term ecological restoration and mitigation of consequences of conflict. Increasing wildlife activities in localities and forest fringes are an alarming issue. Ecological processes like movement, colonization, extinction and conflict issues depend on the landscape and ecological activities, the movement for example of migratory elephants and their colonization not only affects society but the wildlife and biodiversity too. Strategic management measures can contribute to enriching the biodiversity, habitat quality as well as landscape, while minimizing human-wildlife conflicts. This book describes landscape ecological patterns and processes, habitat dominancy, habitat dependency, suitability, connectivity andcorridor selection. To synthesize these patterns and processes, several ecological indices are used. Use of geo-spatial techniques improves future management strategies for similar circumstances, especially, related to forest regeneration and forest restoration.This book provides a concise overview to a wide range of readers including postgraduate students, researcher, academics, landscape planners, decision makers and even local populations. The techniques and management strategies described should help planners to improve forest management, by implementing quality enhancement programs such as plantation area selection and corridor selection.

This book describes the contributing aspects of contemporary developments related to sustainable agricultural resources and assessment of sustainable agriculture in developing nations. The issues like food crisis and declining agro-productivity, post-pandemic food security, zonation and mapping technique viewing food crisis, biotechnology and sustainable agricultural, scaling hunger indices, health hazard and food crisis, changing climate and food availability, consumer load and fertilizer usage, growing demand and increasing usage of harmful chemical in agro-fields are regarded as serious concerns. Thereafter, the scope of sustainable agricultural potentiality (SAP) modeling, amidst the arena of deforestation and encroachment of new cultivable land, impact of pandemic on sustainable agriculture, using wastewater as non-sustainable agricultural practice, applying geospatial techniques on extreme weather susceptibility and agro-production, soil erosion and poor agricultural production, questioning shifting cultivation on the issue of sustainability, meteorological drought and irrigational gaps, occupational mobility and loss of agricultural heritage, farm-excreta burning and air quality index (AQI), GI-Science and sustainable agro-management, community preparedness in food crisis management, multi-criteria hunger index (MCHI), climate change declining sustainable agro-production are worth some. Almost the entire world has recently suffered from several natural and human-induced problems, among which food crisis and unsustainable agriculture throw significant challenges to human society. Contrastingly, if modern technology and means, with advanced monitoring and calibration methodology and policy guidance, can help, it will undoubtedly reduce half of the world's problems and ensure the future survival of human society. In addition, this approach also can minimize the other partially linked problems, like climate change and food shortage, livelihood crisis, environmental refugees, international trade balance, global food supply chain interruption, the ever-expanding gap between rich and poor, and so on. Therefore, properly nurturing the knowledge on the application of GI-Science for an agriculturally sustainable society and their monitoring and management can curtail the gap between science, policy, and the ground-level scenario concerned.

This book describes the contributing aspects of contemporary developments related to sustainable agricultural resources and assessment of sustainable agriculture in developing nations. The issues like food crisis and declining agro-productivity, post-pandemic food security, zonation and mapping technique viewing food crisis, biotechnology and sustainable agricultural, scaling hunger indices, health hazard and food crisis, changing climate and food availability, consumer load and fertilizer usage, growing demand and increasing usage of harmful chemical in agro-fields are regarded as serious concerns. Thereafter, the scope of sustainable agricultural potentiality (SAP) modeling, amidst the arena of deforestation and encroachment of new cultivable land, impact of pandemic on sustainable agriculture, using wastewater as non-sustainable agricultural practice, applying geospatial techniques on extreme weather susceptibility and agro-production, soil erosion and poor agricultural production, questioning shifting cultivation on the issue of sustainability, meteorological drought and irrigational gaps, occupational mobility and loss of agricultural heritage, farm-excreta burning and air quality index (AQI), GI-Science and sustainable agro-management, community preparedness in food crisis management, multi-criteria hunger index (MCHI), climate change declining sustainable agro-production are worth some. Almost the entire world has recently suffered from several natural and human-induced problems, among which food crisis and unsustainable agriculture throw significant challenges to human society. Contrastingly, if modern technology and means, with advanced monitoring and calibration methodology and policy guidance, can help, it will undoubtedly reduce half of the world's problems and ensure the future survival of human society. In addition, this approach also can minimize the other partially linked problems, like climate change and food shortage, livelihood crisis, environmental refugees, international trade balance, global food supply chain interruption, the ever-expanding gap between rich and poor, and so on. Therefore, properly nurturing the knowledge on the application of GI-Science for an agriculturally sustainable society and their monitoring and management can curtail the gap between science, policy, and the ground-level scenario concerned.

This book examines water resources, helps understand complexities in water management, and explains the use of geospatial technology. By 2050, the world will have nearly about 9.8 billion population and which is almost 2.5 to 3 billion added to the present population. Only 3% of world water resources are available for human consumption. Even some resources are polluted because of poor management. Water management is important since it helps determine future irrigation prospects. Management of water resources under set policies and regulations. Water is a more valuable commodity and the world is facing acute water shortages because of drought which is attributed to climate change and overuse. Many rivers are drying up, polluted and encroached.Now the challenge is whether future generations will have enough fresh water for living. Geospatial Technology i.e. Remote Sensing (RS) and GIS have gained considerable interest among earth and hydrological science communities for solving and understanding various complex issues and approaches towards water resources development and management. Water can provide sustainability to any region. Sustainability means that meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. These are generally integrated to study a variety of natural resources and their characteristics. Major advancements have been accomplished in integrating remote sensing and GIS and they complement each other. RS is used for acquiring information for GIS. Remote sensing and GIS integration provide information on the spatial variation, extent, and potential and limitations of natural resources, which is essential for planning the strategy for sustainable development. Most hydrological or geomorphological models are developed in a GIS framework and these are helpful for the planning and management of water and decision-makers for sustainable development.

This book examines water resources, helps understand complexities in water management, and explains the use of geospatial technology. By 2050, the world will have nearly about 9.8 billion population and which is almost 2.5 to 3 billion added to the present population. Only 3% of world water resources are available for human consumption. Even some resources are polluted because of poor management. Water management is important since it helps determine future irrigation prospects. Management of water resources under set policies and regulations. Water is a more valuable commodity and the world is facing acute water shortages because of drought which is attributed to climate change and overuse. Many rivers are drying up, polluted and encroached.Now the challenge is whether future generations will have enough fresh water for living. Geospatial Technology i.e. Remote Sensing (RS) and GIS have gained considerable interest among earth and hydrological science communities for solving and understanding various complex issues and approaches towards water resources development and management. Water can provide sustainability to any region. Sustainability means that meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. These are generally integrated to study a variety of natural resources and their characteristics. Major advancements have been accomplished in integrating remote sensing and GIS and they complement each other. RS is used for acquiring information for GIS. Remote sensing and GIS integration provide information on the spatial variation, extent, and potential and limitations of natural resources, which is essential for planning the strategy for sustainable development. Most hydrological or geomorphological models are developed in a GIS framework and these are helpful for the planning and management of water and decision-makers for sustainable development.

This book seeks to showcase the ongoing challenges of water resource and its management through innovative and cutting-edge approaches (flooding and droughts and their respective impacts; spatial and urban planning; early warning systems; estimation of losses; water resource in the age of global climate change; risk communication; meteorology; integrated analysis; risk mitigation; infrastructures; nature-based management; watershed management; transport; legal assessment; vulnerability analysis; public participation; or case studies). In the face of current global changes, the availability and quality of water resources are under severe threat. Indeed, in all sectors related to water resource management, sustainable development is important for present and future generations. Indeed, multiple problems such as water shortage or flooding, as well as environmental pollution phenomena, are observed. This situation is further exacerbated by poor management practices and unsustainable extraction of water for various consumptive uses. Consequently, many regions around the world, particularly urban areas, are becoming water stressed and conflicts over access to water are becoming ever more common. To overcome the significant challenges fundamental to the management of water resources, cutting-edge knowledge, innovative approaches, and an in-depth understanding of the inherent scientific, economic, social, and environmental issues are imperative. Therefore, water resource management requires a clear understanding of the ongoing challenges and innovative approaches. The authors and editors believe that this book provides huge knowledge and data in the fields of water resource management, earth environmental sciences, humanities, and social sciences, which target a diverse range of readers, such as academics, scientists, students, environmentalists, meteorologists, urban planners, remote sensing, and GIS experts.

This book seeks to showcase the ongoing challenges of water resource and its management through innovative and cutting-edge approaches (flooding and droughts and their respective impacts; spatial and urban planning; early warning systems; estimation of losses; water resource in the age of global climate change; risk communication; meteorology; integrated analysis; risk mitigation; infrastructures; nature-based management; watershed management; transport; legal assessment; vulnerability analysis; public participation; or case studies). In the face of current global changes, the availability and quality of water resources are under severe threat. Indeed, in all sectors related to water resource management, sustainable development is important for present and future generations. Indeed, multiple problems such as water shortage or flooding, as well as environmental pollution phenomena, are observed. This situation is further exacerbated by poor management practices and unsustainable extraction of water for various consumptive uses. Consequently, many regions around the world, particularly urban areas, are becoming water stressed and conflicts over access to water are becoming ever more common. To overcome the significant challenges fundamental to the management of water resources, cutting-edge knowledge, innovative approaches, and an in-depth understanding of the inherent scientific, economic, social, and environmental issues are imperative. Therefore, water resource management requires a clear understanding of the ongoing challenges and innovative approaches. The authors and editors believe that this book provides huge knowledge and data in the fields of water resource management, earth environmental sciences, humanities, and social sciences, which target a diverse range of readers, such as academics, scientists, students, environmentalists, meteorologists, urban planners, remote sensing, and GIS experts.

This book provides huge knowledge and data in the fields of geospatial sciences, earth environmental sciences, humanities, and social sciences, which target a diverse range of readers, such as academics, scientists, students, environmentalists, meteorologists, urban planners, remote sensing, and GIS experts. Earth environment (ecological envelope of geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and cryosphere) faces a significant challenge from different risks and threats due to due to rapid changes in global land use, population increase and pollution. They might drastically impair the ecosystem's ability to maintain long-term service levels while bolstering the economic, social, and environmental pillars of sustainable development. Therefore, risk assessment (RA) has lately become a prominent research topic and a powerful mechanism for enforcing legal activities-related environmental restoration and health improvements to do sustainable development. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) first used the risk assessment approach in 1980, and since then, it has expanded and become standard practice in many areas of ecological research. Some practices are air quality assessment, land degradation assessment, natural hazards risk assessment, urban surface ecological health condition, wetland and forest health assessment and drinking water quality assessment. However, recently risk assessment alone is not sufficient to propose any sustainable management plans. Also, there is no universal strategy for conducting risk assessments, and insufficient expertise with the methodology may result in erroneous findings. Therefore, scientists are increasingly interested in developing resilience strategies with AI and geospatial-based risk assessment to lower environmental risk. Different resilience approaches make different assumptions about the system dynamics involved in resilience-based environmental risk and impact assessment. Therefore, this book seeks to showcase the most current advances in risk and hazards assessment of environments with resilience strategies to mitigate the prevailing environmental issues with the help of remote sensing, GIS, artificial intelligence, and state-of-the-art frameworks like PSR, VIOR, nature-based solutions.

This book provides huge knowledge and data in the fields of geospatial sciences, earth environmental sciences, humanities, and social sciences, which target a diverse range of readers, such as academics, scientists, students, environmentalists, meteorologists, urban planners, remote sensing, and GIS experts. Earth environment (ecological envelope of geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and cryosphere) faces a significant challenge from different risks and threats due to due to rapid changes in global land use, population increase and pollution. They might drastically impair the ecosystem's ability to maintain long-term service levels while bolstering the economic, social, and environmental pillars of sustainable development. Therefore, risk assessment (RA) has lately become a prominent research topic and a powerful mechanism for enforcing legal activities-related environmental restoration and health improvements to do sustainable development. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) first used the risk assessment approach in 1980, and since then, it has expanded and become standard practice in many areas of ecological research. Some practices are air quality assessment, land degradation assessment, natural hazards risk assessment, urban surface ecological health condition, wetland and forest health assessment and drinking water quality assessment. However, recently risk assessment alone is not sufficient to propose any sustainable management plans. Also, there is no universal strategy for conducting risk assessments, and insufficient expertise with the methodology may result in erroneous findings. Therefore, scientists are increasingly interested in developing resilience strategies with AI and geospatial-based risk assessment to lower environmental risk. Different resilience approaches make different assumptions about the system dynamics involved in resilience-based environmental risk and impact assessment. Therefore, this book seeks to showcase the most current advances in risk and hazards assessment of environments with resilience strategies to mitigate the prevailing environmental issues with the help of remote sensing, GIS, artificial intelligence, and state-of-the-art frameworks like PSR, VIOR, nature-based solutions.

In recent decades, natural hazards have increasingly threatened lives, livelihoods, and economies, with annual losses totalling billions of dollars globally. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III) and the Zebra, USA, natural disaster losses reached $74.4 billion in 2020, and an average of 6,800 natural disasters occur each year, claiming around 1.35 million lives. Hydrological and geological hazards, in particular, have significant societal and environmental impacts, making them critical areas of research. Understanding and mitigating these hazards is vital for developing legal mechanisms related to environmental restoration, societal improvements, and sustainable development.Modern technologies and earth observation data play a crucial role in disaster monitoring, prediction, modelling, and management. Recent advancements in geoinformation science have introduced multi-source data for natural hazards research. In addition, cutting-edge methods such as machine learning, deep learning, and big data science offer powerful tools for in-depth studies of natural hazards through remote sensing and geoinformatics. This book, Advanced GIScience in Hydro-Geological Hazards, presents up-to-date contributions on applying advanced GIScience to research various hydro-geological hazards, including floods, landslides, tropical cyclones, soil erosion, coastal erosion, riverbank erosion, coastal area vulnerability, drought, wetlands shrinking etc. It also explores multi-hazard studies using SAR, GNSS, and other innovative methods. The chapters focus on integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning techniques, and remote sensing to enhance preparedness, response, and resilience against these hazards. Targeting a broad audience of academics, scientists, students, environmentalists, government agencies, disaster planners, and GIS experts, this book aims to showcase the latest advancements in GIScience for assessing and managing hydro-geological hazards. It offers strategies for disaster risk reduction and capacity building, providing readers with the knowledge needed to address pressing environmental challenges.

In recent decades, natural hazards have increasingly threatened lives, livelihoods, and economies, with annual losses totalling billions of dollars globally. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III) and the Zebra, USA, natural disaster losses reached $74.4 billion in 2020, and an average of 6,800 natural disasters occur each year, claiming around 1.35 million lives. Hydrological and geological hazards, in particular, have significant societal and environmental impacts, making them critical areas of research. Understanding and mitigating these hazards is vital for developing legal mechanisms related to environmental restoration, societal improvements, and sustainable development.Modern technologies and earth observation data play a crucial role in disaster monitoring, prediction, modelling, and management. Recent advancements in geoinformation science have introduced multi-source data for natural hazards research. In addition, cutting-edge methods such as machine learning, deep learning, and big data science offer powerful tools for in-depth studies of natural hazards through remote sensing and geoinformatics. This book, Advanced GIScience in Hydro-Geological Hazards, presents up-to-date contributions on applying advanced GIScience to research various hydro-geological hazards, including floods, landslides, tropical cyclones, soil erosion, coastal erosion, riverbank erosion, coastal area vulnerability, drought, wetlands shrinking etc. It also explores multi-hazard studies using SAR, GNSS, and other innovative methods. The chapters focus on integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning techniques, and remote sensing to enhance preparedness, response, and resilience against these hazards. Targeting a broad audience of academics, scientists, students, environmentalists, government agencies, disaster planners, and GIS experts, this book aims to showcase the latest advancements in GIScience for assessing and managing hydro-geological hazards. It offers strategies for disaster risk reduction and capacity building, providing readers with the knowledge needed to address pressing environmental challenges.

This book presents the three pillars of Disaster Risk Management (DRM): communication, innovation, and science and technology. These three pillars are applied across five dimensions, namely risk identification and reduction, preparedness, financial protection, resilient recovery, and risk-informed investments in South Asia. In the coming decades, the region will experience rapid economic development and population growth, which, combined with the effects of climate change, will increase the likelihood of being affected by hazards. As hazards can negatively impact every sector of the economy and undo years of economic progress, effective measures to reduce the risk must be incorporated into development plans and poverty reduction strategies.Technological advances have opened up previously unimaginable opportunities to strengthen resilience and improve communications. In the South Asia, it has been experienced that the prevention of hazards and the development of emergency plans enabled by advances in communications and space technology can be much more successful and significantly costly effective than in the past. The use of space technology in disaster monitoring, early warning, and emergency response and for response has shown remarkable efficiency. New approaches to Disaster Risk Management (DRM) are becoming more available due to recent advances in space and communication technology. This book focuses on the use and innovation of space technology and communication for DRM in two specific areas: the Early Warning System (EWS) and the Disaster Information Management System (DIMS).

This book presents the three pillars of Disaster Risk Management (DRM): communication, innovation, and science and technology. These three pillars are applied across five dimensions, namely risk identification and reduction, preparedness, financial protection, resilient recovery, and risk-informed investments in South Asia. In the coming decades, the region will experience rapid economic development and population growth, which, combined with the effects of climate change, will increase the likelihood of being affected by hazards. As hazards can negatively impact every sector of the economy and undo years of economic progress, effective measures to reduce the risk must be incorporated into development plans and poverty reduction strategies.Technological advances have opened up previously unimaginable opportunities to strengthen resilience and improve communications. In the South Asia, it has been experienced that the prevention of hazards and the development of emergency plans enabled by advances in communications and space technology can be much more successful and significantly costly effective than in the past. The use of space technology in disaster monitoring, early warning, and emergency response and for response has shown remarkable efficiency. New approaches to Disaster Risk Management (DRM) are becoming more available due to recent advances in space and communication technology. This book focuses on the use and innovation of space technology and communication for DRM in two specific areas: the Early Warning System (EWS) and the Disaster Information Management System (DIMS).

This book explores how flow attenuation due to dams influences the hydrogeomorphic dynamics of wetlands and their ecohydrological transformation. The International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) (2021) reported that around 58,700 large dams and thousands of smaller dams have been built worldwide, regulating river flows and causing significant geomorphological and hydroecological changes in downstream river reaches and riparian floodplain wetlands. Wetlands, which cover about 6-8% of the earth’s surface, are important ecotonal ecosystems that harbor 40% of global biodiversity. Various factors contribute to the degradation and loss of wetlands, with damming. In rain-fed floodplains, river flow attenuation often disrupts the lateral connectivity between rivers and wetlands, leading to hydro-ecological changes that affect both the wetlands and the well-being of the communities that depend on them. However, these vital ecosystems are changing at an alarming rate, increasing the vulnerability of dependent ecosystems and societies. Numerous research articles have highlighted the various impacts of damming on wetlands. Yet, there is a noticeable gap in the comprehensive literature that provides an integrated perspective on eco-hydrological changes and approaches to their restoration in order to mitigate various forms of environmental risks. This book bridges this gap by first introducing the relationship between damming and river flow modifications, including changes in spilling behaviors and interactions with para-fluvial wetlands. It will address the measurement of flow modifications in response to damming a range of variability components (magnitude, duration, timing, etc.) to understand flow modification across different RVA components. Challenges in wetland delineation, particularly in dynamic seasonal floodplain environments, are addressed, with the book proposing strategies for mapping these erratic wetlands and examining key challenges and solution strategies.