Welcome to the Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information

The Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information (ZKI) presents a service of the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of DLR. It provides a 24/7 service for the rapid provision, processing and analysis of satellite imagery during natural and environmental disasters, for humanitarian relief activities and civil security issues worldwide. The resulting satellite based information products are provided to relief organisations and public authorities and are also freely available on the ZKI website. According to the requirements of the user, the information products are delivered in the form of maps, GIS-ready geodata or dossiers which are then used to support disaster management operations, humanitarian relief activities or civil security issues.

The rising number of natural disasters, humanitarian emergency situations and threats to the civil society increases the demand for timely and precise information on many different types of scenarios and situations. ZKI uses all kinds of satellite imagery for the extraction of relevant crisis information like flood extent, damaged infrastructure, endangered population or evacuation areas, just to name a few examples. Besides response and assessment activities, ZKI derives geoinformation products for the use in medium term rehabilitation, reconstruction and crisis prevention activities. It operates in national and international context, closely networking with German public authorities at national and state level, non-governmental organisations, satellite operators and space agencies. In order to continuously improve service and products, ZKI cooperates very closely with relief organisations and provides training and consulting for field practitioners, situation center staff and decision makers.

Disaster Management

The disaster management cycle represents the different stages before and after a disaster. Each phase has different demands on the satellite information products and ZKI makes important contributions especially during the emergency relief phase, but also for rehabilitation and recovery actions as well as early warning and disaster prevention. In its function as crisis mapping service, ZKI creates crisis maps immediately after an event with specific information about the disaster extent (e.g. flooded area) and estimated damages (e. g. affected houses, infrastructure, etc.) in order to assist decision making in situation centers and during relief actions in the field. Further analyses and monitoring of the disaster situation can support planning and reconstruction activities as well as the development of vulnerability studies for specific regions. ZKI also supports the development of early warning systems in the domain of natural hazard prevention.

Humanitarian Aid

In case of humanitarian crises ZKI assists relief efforts in cooperation with international partner organisations and provides user specified information and map products, such as refugee camp and situation maps. These maps can be a valuable contribution for logistic support and operation planning in the respective camps or areas. In the frame of these activities, ZKI closely cooperates with international relief organisations and several UN organisations.

Civil Security

The increasing importance of the topic “civil security” within the projects of ZKI is leading to research activities with an increased focus on search and rescue work, monitoring of critical infrastructure, natural resources and illegal crops. Also the monitoring of international conflicts and crisis regions is element of the development of methods and concepts for crisis prevention in terms of civil security.