Satellite images, app to aid estimate of Kerala flood loss

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has decided to use satellite images to aid its assessment of the August floods that wreaked havoc across the state. The government is also readying a mobile app to document damages to houses and other buildings.

The IT Mission of the government will carry out scientific mapping to estimate the extent of damage.  

Authorities have collected the satellite images of the flood from August 15 to 21 when the unusual high intensity rain peaked. The map is being readied in association with two bodies - the Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre as well as StatSure Diagnostics. The latter agency empowers facility managers with easy-to-understand data.

Satellite images can give a clear picture of the places where the floodwaters spread and at what heights. Their examination will help authorities to decide on the compensation to be given to those affected by the calamity.

Government officials and personnel from voluntary organisations have started visiting houses that were affected by floods. The estimated losses suffered by each such household would then be fed into the mobile app. The GPS location of the house would be uploaded on to mobile phones by using this app. Such data will be correlated with map so as to finalise the extent of destruction to property. The data received through the new app would also be linked with the data being readied by other pertinent departments.

Appeals for help that were made on WhatsApp during the floods have been marked on the maps along with the GPS-shown location. Based on them, a heat map of the worst-affected regions that marooned people will be readied.

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