Is space global disaster warning and monitoring now nearing reality?

It is now well established that the annual cost of natural disasters world-wide is in excess of $400 billion. Support of relief agencies and governments depends on the timely receipt of information on the scale and nature of these disasters, and much of this information comes from ground-based sources. It is also recognised, however, that significant input could be provided by space-based sensor systems, both for disaster warning as well as disaster monitoring. Recent major disasters have demonstrated that the scale of devastation cannot adequately be monitored From ground-based information sources alone. This paper addresses current developments in a study to provide a global space-based monitoring and information system, with the associated ability to provide advanced warning of many types of disaster. Also addressed are the latest developments in sensor technology (optic;ll, IR, Radar) including a UK initiative in high resolution imaging from a microsatellite, the logistics and cost of such a system and the feasibility of using communications networks for providing the infrastructure for such a system. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.