Advances in technology have significantly improved how well we can assess the level of exposure buildings, and ultimately people, face during a disaster. We have been working with the British Geological Survey, ImageCat, and the Global Earthquake Model on METEOR, a UK Space Agency international partnership program focused on developing innovative applications for earth observation (EO) technologies to improve understanding of exposure to help minimize these risks.

After successfully collecting up-to-date, accurate exposure data in Nepal, in partnership with Kathmandu Living Labs, our team in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, applied the same method to better identify risk of exposure in the city and neighboring Pwani Region. Nineteen surveyors and five data validators collected detailed information for 2,951 buildings, including the building and roof materials, age and condition of the buildings, number of inhabitants, geological site, and more. This data was shared with ImageCat and the Global Earthquake Model Foundation who are developing a multi-hazard model to help make better decisions in disaster risk reduction planning by key actors, such as the Tanzania Disaster Management Department.

More information about the project can be found on the OpenStreetMap wiki pages for Tanzania and Nepal.

"It's very important for our country, and for all phases of disasters, all of which need data."
- Staff Member of Tanzania Disaster Management Department