Disaster resilience

BUILDING A RESILIENT FUTURE

Our aim is to increase the resilience of societies to disaster impacts by integration of climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We carry out research and train students in advanced data/image analysis (such as machine learning, computer vision, and geomatics engineering), hazard, vulnerability and risk modelling, and develop and implement resilience-building strategies at the local level.

The world is experiencing an alarming increase in the number of disasters due to interlocking factors such as climate change, population growth, urbanization, conflicts, epidemics, and migration. Extreme events, including floods, storms, heatwaves, landslides, droughts, and wildfires, now often aggravated by climate change, can interact with other hazards like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and trigger devastating cascading impacts across sectors, threatening food and water security, causing health impacts, conflicts and migration.

The growing threat

A key challenge is how multiple risks compound, requiring much more sophisticated analysis and risk management than in the case of single hazards. A key example is the simultaneous increase in the risk of droughts and increasing extreme rainfall, threatening health, food and water security, and sometimes even causing displacement and conflicts. Without effective integration of climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction, communities remain vulnerable to these destructive events. The need for resilient societies is more urgent than ever.

Our approach to disaster resilience at ITC

At ITC, we develop and apply geospatial technologies in a multidisciplinary context to predict and monitor hazards and disaster impacts, in order to generate early warnings and inform efforts to reduce risk. In the process, we assess disaster impacts, such as physical and functional damages, as a basis for more efficient disaster response and recovery, and to build-back-better with reduced risk. Our tools, include hazard (occurrence probability and intensity) and risk (impacts as a function of vulnerability and exposure). A unique characteristic of our approach at ITC is that we often do this in close partnership with and in direct support of organizations such as the Red Cross or UNDRR.

Hazard and Exposure Assessment, Monitoring and Early Warning

We map and characterize historical disaster events to better predict future ones. We detect anomalies in time series (e.g. rainfall, temperature, vegetation) as the basis for Early Warning. We monitor ongoing disaster events (e.g. floods, droughts, wildfires) and the exposed assets (e.g. population, agriculture). We apply extreme value statistics in a changing climate to assess changes in the probability of extreme events and use the results for modelling future hazards using techniques that range from physically based modelling to data-driven methods.

Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment and Impact Forecasting

We use remote sensing and tools like collaborative mapping and AI to map, monitor, and characterize assets (e.g., built environment, population, infrastructure, agriculture, biodiversity). We assess the vulnerability of societies under various disaster scenarios. We develop methods to express the impacts of disasters in qualitative and quantitative terms (e.g., financial loss, economic impact, health impacts, social impacts) for real-time applications (e.g., Impact-Based Forecasting) or long-term measures (e.g., disaster risk reduction planning). We create future scenarios to assess expected changes in risk and co-develop climate-resilient planning alternatives.

Disaster Response and Recovery Planning

We use satellite Remote Sensing in combination with innovative tools (UAVs, robots) for search-and-rescue, and to rapidly map damage after disasters, such as physical and functional damages, as a basis for more efficient disaster response and recovery, and to build-back-better with reduced risk. The other sub-themes provide the input data to avoid subsequent disaster impacts during recovery and improve recovery planning. We focus on the monitoring and prevention of post-disaster epidemics, and monitoring of post-disaster migration.

Driven by climate change, natural hazards are increasing in frequency, intensity, and complexity, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable in the Global South. Our team at the University of Twente develops effective governmental and humanitarian assistance across prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery phases. Our interdisciplinary research, in collaboration with local partners, builds resilient communities using cutting-edge geospatial techniques to predict flood, hurricane, earthquake, and landslide impacts, grounded in a holistic understanding of community decision-making processes.

Making real impact

At ITC, it is our mission to create real-world impact, primarily in the global south. We do this by advancing disaster resilience through innovative research and practical solutions. We are committed to Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG 13 (combat climate change and its impacts) and SDG 11. Our projects tackle critical challenges, enabling communities worldwide to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Below are three example projects that we are proud to work on. You can also check our Major Project Database for more disaster resilience projects at ITC.

SPACE4ALL

SPACE4ALL combines Citizen Science and Earth Observation to map slum climate vulnerabilities in six cities. By training AI with enriched local data, it addresses data gaps. Open-access results will help prioritize risk hotspots for community action.

Detecting and monitoring rice stressors

This project focuses on enhancing the precision and effectiveness of detecting and monitoring rice stressors resulting from abiotic and biotic factors and extreme climate events across large spatial extents by leveraging hyperspectral remote sensing at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

PARATUS

PARATUS, a Horizon Europe project, promotes disaster preparedness by co-developing tools to manage systemic risks from compounding disasters. It enhances first and second responders' readiness for multi-hazard events, reducing sectoral risks from complex disasters.

DIVE INTO OUR MASTER'S PROGRAMMES

View all programmes

Cartography (joint degree)
The joint degree Master Cartography is an Erasmus Mundus Master of four European universities. It focuses on a broad education in cartography and geoinformatics.
Master of Science2 yearsFull-time100% English
Geo-information Science and Earth Observation
Contribute to solving some of the world's most pressing challenges by mastering the acquisition, analysis, and processing of geo-information data.
5 SpecialisationsMaster of Science2 yearsFull-time100% English3 Joint programmes
Disaster Resilience
Focus on disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, and resilience - especially in the context of climate change.
MSc2 Joint programmes
Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI)
Harnessing the power of technology to automate the analysis and interpretation of large and complex spatial datasets like satellite images, UAV data, and local sensor data.
MSc3 Joint programmes
Resources Security
Gain knowledge and skills in quantitative remote sensing to map, model, monitor and manage water, earth and natural resources through an interdisciplinary approach.
MSc2 Joint programmes
Spatial Data Science
The Spatial Data Science specialisation is designed for students who want a bit more flexibility to create their own learning path to achieve their career goals with the help of an advisor.
MSc
Urban and Land Futures
Learn to tackle social, environmental, economic, and land tenure challenges in urban and regional areas.
MSc2 Joint programmes
Geo-information Science and Earth Observation for Environmental Modelling and Management
In this 2-year, English-taught Master's, you will learn how to use advanced geospatial data and modern technology to find solutions to challenges in urban planning, agriculture and natural ecosystems.
Master of Science2 yearsFull-time100% English
Geographical Information Management and Applications (joint degree)
This Master’s aims to educate students and professionals to become all-round managers and/or researchers in the field of geo-information.
Master of Science2 yearsFull-time | Part-time100% English
Spatial Engineering
Natural disasters, poverty, food shortage, epidemics, climate change: learn to tackle society’s greatest and complex challenges using spatial data and technical and socio-economic knowledge.
Master of Science2 yearsFull-time100% English

Boost your skills with our short courses

View all programmes

Modelling Multi-Hazards & Risk (online course)
Learn how to conduct a quantitative multi-hazard risk assessment, how risk components can be obtained, and how risk information can be used in risk reduction planning.
Certificate10 weeksPart-time100% English
Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment (online course)
The course explains how to conduct a risk assessment using spatial information on hazards, elements at risk and vulnerability with the aid of GIS and remote sensing.
Certificate6 weeksPart-time100% English

In addition to our master's programmes, ITC offers a range of short courses - also through our Geoversity platform. Whether you want to gain new skills or deepen your expertise, you'll learn from leading experts, work on hands-on projects, and acquire the tools needed for disaster resilience. Discover the course that fits your goals and start making an impact today.

ITC's expertise in Disaster Resilience

Linked to the Centre For Disaster Resilience, and national and international partners and network (e.g. UNDRR, UN-Habitat, UNDP, Anticipation Hub).
Development of Open-Science solution for Disaster Risk Assessment and Management (e.g. FastFlood, FastSlide, RiskChanges, DISC).
Renowned professors and extensive scientific publications about disaster resilience.

Meet some of our experts

Are you interested in collaborating with ITC on disaster resilience? Whether you’re looking to study, partner on a research project, access local expertise, join a course, or simply brainstorm ideas, we’re here to connect with you. Feel free to reach out—your ideas and questions are always welcome! Please contact prof. Cees van Westen or any other expert we have at ITC on disaster resilience.

Our approach to disaster resilience at ITC

Making real impact

DIVE INTO OUR MASTER'S PROGRAMMES

Spatial Data Science

Boost your skills with our short courses

Meet some of our experts