GIS for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Course

Introduction

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have improved prospects for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) offer powerful tools to support all phases of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), enabling evidence-based planning, early warning, real-time monitoring, and post-disaster recovery. The GIS for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Course is designed to build the technical and analytical capacity of professionals to apply geospatial technologies in disaster-prone settings.

This course provides a comprehensive foundation in how GIS and remote sensing can be leveraged to assess hazard exposure, identify vulnerable populations and infrastructure, map multi-hazard risks, and inform emergency preparedness and disaster response efforts. Through a blend of conceptual sessions and hands-on exercises using open-source tools like QGIS, participants will learn how to collect, analyze, visualize, and communicate spatial data relevant to disaster scenarios.

Participants will also explore mobile-based data collection methods, remote sensing techniques for monitoring environmental change, and how participatory GIS can be integrated with local knowledge for more inclusive risk reduction planning. The course emphasizes practical applications and includes case studies across a variety of disaster types such as floods, landslides, droughts, cyclones, and epidemics to help participants design effective GIS workflows for DRR planning, decision-making, and coordination.

By the end of the training, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to implement GIS-supported disaster risk assessments, contribute to multi-sectoral disaster management strategies, and support resilient development planning in their institutions or communities. The course is ideal for disaster risk managers, urban planners, emergency response teams, development practitioners, and technical staff working in hazard-prone regions.

Who Should Attend?

This course is suitable to:

·       Disaster risk reduction officers and emergency planners working in government agencies, civil protection, and humanitarian organizations

·       Urban and regional planners engaged in integrating disaster resilience into land use and infrastructure planning

·       Environmental and climate change specialists assessing risks linked to natural hazards and climate variability

·       GIS analysts and remote sensing professionals supporting risk mapping, hazard analysis, and early warning systems

·       Project managers and technical staff in NGOs, UN agencies, and development organizations focusing on disaster response and resilience building

·       Public health and WASH professionals involved in risk assessment and planning for health-related emergencies

·       Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) specialists integrating spatial data into DRR program assessments and reporting

·       Community development officers and local government staff involved in grassroots disaster preparedness and participatory planning

Duration

5 Days

Course Objective

By the end of the course, the participant should be able to:

·       Understand the core principles and frameworks of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), including the Sendai Framework, and how GIS supports each phase of the disaster cycle—preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

·       Apply GIS tools to collect, manage, and analyze spatial data related to hazards, vulnerabilities, exposure, and risk in disaster-prone environments.

·       Generate hazard and multi-risk maps using spatial datasets and open-source GIS platforms to support evidence-based planning and decision-making.

·       Utilize remote sensing data and satellite imagery to monitor environmental and climate-related hazards such as floods, droughts, wildfires, and landslides.

·       Conduct vulnerability and exposure assessments by integrating socioeconomic and infrastructure data to identify at-risk populations and critical services.

·       Design and implement mobile-based data collection tools (e.g., ODK, KoBoToolbox) for rapid field assessments, damage surveys, and early warning applications.

·       Integrate GIS into early warning systems and support real-time risk communication through interactive mapping and visualization dashboards.

·       Leverage participatory GIS approaches to include community knowledge in disaster risk analysis and planning processes.

·       Develop spatial workflows and analytical outputs that can inform preparedness strategies, emergency operations, and post-disaster recovery interventions.

·       Interpret, document, and communicate spatial risk information effectively to stakeholders, including policymakers, humanitarian actors, and local communities.

Course outline

Module 1: Foundations of Disaster Risk Reduction and GIS

• Concepts of hazards, vulnerability, exposure, capacity, and risk
• Introduction to the Disaster Risk Management Cycle (mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery)
• Overview of international DRR frameworks (e.g., Sendai Framework)
• Role of GIS and Remote Sensing in DRR
• Introduction to GIS platforms (QGIS, Google Earth, ArcGIS – overview)

Module 2: Spatial Data and GIS Fundamentals

• Types of spatial data: vector and raster
• Coordinate systems and map projections
• Sources of geospatial data for DRR (satellite, national, global databases, OSM)
• Data formats and data quality considerations
• Creating and managing GIS projects in QGIS

Module 3: Hazard Mapping and Risk Assessment

• Mapping natural and human-induced hazards (floods, droughts, landslides, earthquakes, fires)
• Multi-hazard analysis and overlay techniques
• Using historical hazard data for trend and frequency analysis
• Buffering and reclassification to define hazard zones
• Spatial risk assessment frameworks

Module 4: Vulnerability and Exposure Analysis

• Integrating population, infrastructure, and land use data
• Identifying and mapping vulnerable populations and critical facilities (e.g., schools, hospitals)
• Socioeconomic indicators of vulnerability
• Exposure mapping using remote sensing and GIS
• Risk indexing and prioritization of intervention areas

Module 5: Remote Sensing for Hazard Monitoring

• Fundamentals of remote sensing and its DRR applications
• Accessing and interpreting satellite imagery (e.g., Landsat, Sentinel)
• NDVI and water index for drought and flood monitoring
• Image classification, change detection, and environmental analysis
• Tools: Google Earth Engine (intro), SNAP, or QGIS plugins

Module 6: Mobile Data Collection and Field Mapping

• Designing mobile surveys for disaster assessment using ODK or KoBoToolbox
• Collecting geospatial data in the field (points, polygons, photos)
• Syncing and cleaning field data
• Importing mobile data into QGIS for visualization and analysis
• Real-time mapping for damage and needs assessment

Module 7: GIS for Early Warning and Emergency Planning

• Role of GIS in early warning systems (EWS)
• Spatial modeling for risk prediction and scenario planning
• Creating hazard alerts and response maps
• Route optimization for evacuation and logistics planning
• Using GIS to support emergency response coordination

Module 8: Participatory GIS and Community Resilience

• Participatory mapping tools and techniques
• Engaging local communities in risk identification
• Mapping local knowledge, hazards, and coping strategies
• Integrating participatory GIS with official risk datasets
• Using PGIS to support inclusive DRR planning

Module 9: Post-Disaster Recovery and Resilience Planning

• Mapping disaster impact and loss assessment
• GIS for recovery planning and reconstruction monitoring
• Time-series analysis of recovery progress
• Risk-informed land use and urban planning with GIS
• Integrating resilience indicators in spatial planning

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better