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A year on from the Asian tsunami, satellites are aiding regional rebuilding

23 December 2005

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New housing in the town of Sigli, Indonesia, built by the French non-governmental organisation Emergency Architects (Architectes de l'Urgence or ADU). This fishing town was two thirds destroyed by the tsunami. ADU is helping to rebuild both homes and harbour facilities, its plan of intervention guided by satellite data.

Credits: Emergency Architects (Architectes de l'Urgence or ADU)

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Desolation after the 26 December tsunami

Credits: EuroNews

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Satellite map of Sri Lanka, Galle area (30/12/04)

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Satellite map of Sri Lanka, lowlands of Galle area, acquired 30 December 2004, utilising digital terrain information to estimate tsunami-damaged areas between 0 and 25 metres. It has a 90m resolution. Source: MNT USGS SRTM (3 arc seconds).

Credits: SERTIT

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This high-resolution QuickBird image of pre-disaster Sigli has been provided by Respond partner UNOSAT for use by Emergency Architects (ADU), who are rebuilding homes and harbour facilities in this tsunami-struck town. The image has a resolution of 2.4 metres and was acquired 1 September 2002.

Credits: UNOSAT / Digital Globe 2005

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Emergency Architects' (ADU) master plan for Batticaloa in eastern Sri Lanka, overlaid on high-resolution satellite imagery provided by UNOSAT

Credits: UNOSAT

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Before and after SPOT views of Banda Aceh

Before and after three-dimensional SPOT satellite views of Banda Aceh, coastal capital of the Indonesian province of Aceh on the island of the Sumatra. Banda Aceh was almost completely destroyed by the tsunami, but rebuilding is proceeding.

Credits: EuroNews

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This high-resolution satellite map of post-tsunami Banda Aceh produced by Respond partners is guiding rebuilding efforts a year on.

Credits: Respond/Keyobs

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Satellite-derived street map of post-tsunami Banda Aceh, being used by more than 400 groups operating in the city

Credits: Respond/Keyobs

About the International Charter

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MERIS image showing northeast coast of Sri Lanka

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This image acquired on 28 December 2004 by the MERIS (Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer) on board ESA's Envisat Earth observation satellite shows the northeast coast of Sri Lanka and the southern coasts of India. Sediment (light brown & green colour) left after the tsunami can be seen along the coast.

Credits: ESA

About Respond

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Regional map of tsunami-affected areas, scale: 1:12,000,000 Source: GLCF, NASA, USGS. MODIS-Terra Mosaic. Elevation data: SRTM (3 arc seconds). Shows coastal areas under 20 meters elevation. Map produced 28/12/2004 by UNOSAT.

Credits: UNOSAT