History

In recent years, great advances have been made in the use of imagery and remote sensing for monitoring and protecting the environment, as well as in disaster preparedness and response. Environmental emergency preparedness planners now have a vast “constellation” of imagery and remote sensing resources available to observe and respond to environmental disasters. The groups that have benefited from this technology range from federal, state, and local emergency management agencies down to the first responders. These resources are used to prepare for hurricanes and floods as well as recover from their effects; observe wildfires and forest fires and work to contain them; and respond to other disasters, thus protecting lives, valuable property, and the The Use of Imagery in Environmental Disaster Preparedness and Response environment. These imagery resources and their associated systems, as useful as they are, are not necessarily integrated nor marshaled in any coherent web in support of those protecting lives, property, or the environment. With the new openness, declassification, and commercial availability of high-resolution imagery, remote-sensing capabilities now available to preparedness and response individuals range from satellite sensors to aircraft platforms. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

I would sincerely like to thank all those who were kind enough to read this essay and provide such thoughtful feedback: Professor Irina Paperno and fellow graduate students Victoria Smolkin and Erik Scott. I would especially like to thank Professor Victoria Frede for her discerning advice as well as her overall support and enduring patience.