In the SEVESEO project, a user tailored information system is developed so that it allows an easy manipulation of pre-calculated dispersion scenario’s. This includes the search, modification and extraction of the needed information as well as the manipulation of dispersion models that are connected to the SEVESEO IS. Different environmental compartments are considered, including air, soil, surface waters. A specificity of the system is the integrated use of satellite remote sensing for site specification during the preventive phase as well for visual aid during the response phase.

This statement is an important starting point. It contains two important elements. Firstly, the SEVESEO IS should be maximising the use of satellite imagery. Secondly, the model should also integrate pollutant dispersion models.

Remote sensing

Remotely sensing information has the possibility to offer a global view of the site environment and depending on the platform used (airborne, satellite or UAV), remote sensing can provide frequently updated information. Remote sensing can be used to obtain visual information, surface characteristics (land cover/use, state and abundance of vegetation, topography) as well as atmospheric composition.

In the SEVESEO IS we currently use different mapping layers, which can be just according by the situation:

Satellite data (SPOT 4, Quickbird, ...)

Topographic maps at various scales (1:5000-1:25000)

Digital terrain data

Environmental maps (hydrology, soil type, vegetation, ...)

Population & land cover maps 

Dispersion modelling

Dispersion models have become an integral part in the management cycle of dangerous products. They allow to fix geographical limits of an accident as well as to forecast future impacted areas. Dispersion models do exist in many different versions (simple

analytical models to complex 3-dimensional models) and implementations. Within SEVESEO an approach has been selected that allows various dispersion models to be used taking advantage of the satellite based information layers available inside SEVESEO. Focus is put on the environmental impacts which are nowadays not always the prime concern of the teams intervening on the field.

   Recent ICT-developments (Papajorgji et al. (2004), Goodall et al. (2008), 

   Smiatek G. (2005)) now allow to loosely couple different real-time data

   providers, database and modelling services to form an integrated

   information platform.  

   The combination of the different mapping layers and dispersion models

   allows us to perform several spatial operations who can contribute to each

   phase in the disaster management cycle, like: