NASA and PDC collaborate to enhance worldwide preparedness for landslides using cutting-edge technology
NASA and the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) have partnered to improve worldwide awareness and response to landslide dangers by incorporating NASA’s Landslide Hazard Assessment for Situational Awareness model (LHASA) into the DisasterAWARE platform. Each year, landslides cause substantial harm and loss of life in communities globally. By utilizing LHASA’s features, users of DisasterAWARE now have a powerful tool to quickly identify, monitor, and address landslide risks.
Developed over years of research and testing, LHASA uses a machine learning model that integrates a variety of data, including land slope, soil moisture, and real-time precipitation data from NASA’s IMERG product. This comprehensive approach allows LHASA to create “nowcasts” of landslides that provide maps of potential rainfall-induced landslides in a given area over the past day. By rapidly assessing high-risk areas and delivering critical information to disaster response teams, LHASA facilitates proactive measures to reduce risk and save lives.
The integration of LHASA into the DisasterAWARE program is a significant milestone in global disaster resilience. PDC’s DisasterAWARE platform, used by several disaster management agencies and organizations worldwide, is an important tool for early warning and risk assessment of many natural hazards. By incorporating LHASA’s landslide monitoring capabilities, DisasterAWARE improves its effectiveness in delivering life-saving information to decision makers and communities.
Through open source data sharing and collaboration, NASA and PDC aim to provide vulnerable communities with actionable tools to reduce disaster risk. The partnership expands LHASA’s reach, allowing tens of thousands of DisasterAWARE users to benefit from its capabilities. Teams in landslide-prone areas such as El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic have already utilized LHASA to assess hazards during rainy seasons, demonstrating the practical implications of this collaboration for disaster preparedness and response.
As NASA and the PDC continue their collaboration, they strengthen their commitment to using science and technology to reduce global disaster risk. Integrating LHASA into the DisasterAWARE program highlights the importance of innovation and collaboration in improving global resilience to natural hazards. Through ongoing efforts, these organizations strive to increase awareness and responsiveness, protecting communities and livelihoods worldwide.
