From Polygon to Prediction: A Request-Driven Architecture for Disaster Mapping and Impact Assessment

Disasters pose significant threats to cultural heritage and natural landscapes. To mitigate damage and plan effective recovery actions, it is crucial to conduct precise impact assessments. 

This work presents a service that offers an innovative, adaptable and scalable solution, integrating remote sensing and delineation models to map catastrophic events and estimate the elements affected within the area of impact. By leveraging satellite imagery and advanced AI-based mapping models, the service is tailored to delineate and estimate the severity of the hazards, providing additional information about population, infrastructures, constructed elements (potentially including culturally significant structures) and land cover. 

The primary utility of the service lies in its ability to map catastrophic events, i.e. fires, floods and landslides with high accuracy. By delineating the affected areas, stakeholders can gain immediate insights into the extent and nature of the disaster. In addition to this core functionality, the service also provides valuable metadata about the elements within the impacted area, enabling a deeper understanding of the disaster’s impact. 

Cultural heritage sites, particularly those integrated into natural landscapes, are vulnerable to various natural phenomena. Assessing the extent of the damage requires accurate and timely information about the affected areas. Our approach is rooted in geospatial technologies, providing an automated workflow that begins with the input of a polygon defining the area of interest and a specific period. From there, the system downloads the best high-resolution remote sensing images available and runs delineation models designed for disaster mapping. These models enable the identification of impacted cultural and natural assets with high precision. 

A unique aspect of the service is its adaptability. While current assessments are often based on standardized taxonomies, these classifications were generally not designed to explicitly characterize cultural heritage. The service allows for the integration of site-specific base maps, enabling a more refined analysis tailored to the unique attributes of cultural sites and their surrounding landscapes. 

Impact assessments are a cornerstone for planning recovery actions post-disaster. service’s ability to integrate diverse datasets ensures that assessments are not only accurate but also actionable. By providing insights into the damage sustained by cultural heritage and natural landscapes, stakeholders can make informed decisions about restoration priorities and resource allocation. 

Incorporating cultural heritage and natural landscapes into disaster impact assessments is a practical necessity for preserving our shared history and identity. By leveraging remote sensing, advanced delineation models, and adaptable taxonomies, the service provides a robust tool for understanding and mitigating the impacts of disasters.