The global flood detection system

This document presents a methodology for satellite based flood detection, developed and implemented on an automatic operational basis, which then provides near real-time alerts about humanitarian and natural disasters around the world, and tools to facilitate response coordination, including news and maps.

A procedure chain was developed at the JRC to automatically acquire and process the remotely sensed data in real time on an operational basis. The remotely observed flood events are integrated into a Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) including the estimation of its humanitarian impact.