A GLOBAL, DISASTER-CYCLE APPROACH TO DAMAGE AND RECOVERY MONITORING

This paper describes the main features of a geo-database that has been developed integrating pre-event exposure estimation and post-event recovery monitoring using the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) taxonomy as a common basis. Following suggestions provided by recovery experts, the database is built to provide a new standard, ensuring complete compatibility among the different phases of the disaster, leading to a proper “cycle” approach. Its main capabilities are presented, as well as examples of a working model. Its integration with the GEM taxonomy was decided because of the detailed work related to building exposure estimation already made in GEM and the possible, foreseeable transformation of the GEM taxonomy into a standard sometime in the future