Spatial Tools for Assessing Risks in Sudden natural hazards

ongoing

STARS (Spatial Tools for Assessing Risks in Sudden natural hazards) uses recent advances in science, technology, and the ever-growing data sources related to Earth monitoring, to contribute to a deeper knowledge of natural hazards phenomena and the challenging prevention and mitigation of their effects in Equatorial regions. Earthquakes, landslides, and floods are sudden natural disasters of particular concern in South America, occurring without prior warning and catching people unprepared to handle event consequences. Science and technology have provided instrumentation and monitoring with geospatial data at the appropriate scale as critical tools to prevent major impacts of such events. Recent technological advances in geospatial data analytics, namely in Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Artificial Intelligence, and Building Information Models, can support the response to such challenges by handling data critical to the modelling and processing that ultimately will support decisions on disaster prevention and mitigation. Building capacities to operate effectively these technological tools and associated geospatial data is of the utmost importance. However, current university curricula do not cover the most recent advances in the mentioned technologies, both in geospatial data sourcing and processing. STARS fills the identified gaps at the higher education level in South America's Equatorial region by collaboratively developing curricula, contents and materials for three modular innovative courses, modernizing laboratories, setting up an e-learning environment, and building training capacity in four Ecuadorian and Colombian universities. These main results and outputs will also be disseminated amongst associate partners and society.