Utilizing UAVs for rapid spatial data acquisition in disaster management: A case study of Islahiye

Abstract

This study investigates the application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for swift spatial
data acquisition in disaster management. Specifically, the focus is on monitoring a landslide
and the resulting lake formation in the Islahiye district of Gaziantep, Turkey, subsequent to
the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. Using UAVs, orthophotos and elevation models were
generated, enabling accurate visual representations of the affected area. Through data
analysis, the landslide volume was estimated at approximately 549,183.8 cubic meters, with
the water area of the formed lake measuring approximately 26,731.6 square meters. The
findings underscore the value of UAVs as efficient and cost-effective tools for acquiring realtime and precise spatial data in different disaster management stages. UAVs prove
advantageous for pre-disaster monitoring, prediction, early warning systems, as well as postdisaster search and rescue operations and recovery endeavors. This study contributes to the
existing knowledge on UAVs in disaster management, demonstrating their crucial role in
assessing the impact of natural disasters and guiding subsequent response and recovery
actions. The calculated values of landslide volume and water area provide essential
quantitative information for understanding the magnitude of the event and facilitating
appropriate measures. Moreover the study demonstrates the valuable role of UAVs in disaster
management by providing real-time and precise spatial data. UAVs prove advantageous for
monitoring, early warning systems, search and rescue operations, and recovery endeavors.
The findings contribute to our understanding of the impact of natural disasters and aid in
guiding appropriate response and recovery actions.