Skip to main content

Description

According to the United Nations Development Program, by 2050 two-thirds of the world’s population is likely to live in cities. Urban flooding is already a major risk for cities. Increasing impervious surface area, inadequate storm water drainage, and aging infrastructure all contribute to urban flooding. As a result, growing urban populations will face a greater risk of flooding from extreme weather events. 

This training series hosted by NASA's Applied Remote Sensing Training program (ARSET) focuses on the components of urban flooding that satellite data can track:

  • Extreme precipitation
  • Flooding
  • Waterlogged and ponded surfaces

Using satellite data allows individuals and organizations to develop better plans for handling floods. This can include developing better early warning techniques, better plans for rescue and relief, and more effective long-term infrastructure planning.

Access the Agenda (PDF, 309 KB)

Prerequisites

Objectives

By the end of the training, attendees will be able to: 

  • Describe remote sensing and Earth system model data useful for flood monitoring in urban areas
  • Identify how remote sensing can aid in planning early warning systems, flood response, and flood recovery efforts

Target Audience

This training is primarily intended for urban water and disaster managers, urban planners, emergency responders, transportation and utility providers and planners, public health professionals, and the insurance sector. 

Course Format

  • Two 2-hour parts

Sessions

Part 1: Overview of Urban Flooding 

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

This session will provide an overview of causes and risks associated with urban flooding. It will also go through data needs for flood management (before, during, and after flooding) and how to use remote sensing to monitor precipitation. 

Materials

Homework

Materiales en Español

Tarea

Part 2: Satellite Data for Monitoring Urban Flooding

Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018

This session will look at examples of synthetic aperture radar-based urban flood monitoring and examples of light detecting and ranging (lidar) data for urban floodplain detection. Attendees will also learn about Landsat-based urban data, shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) terrain data, socioeconomic data, and how to access Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) near real-time data, the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS), and the Global Flood Monitoring System (GFMS).

Materials

Homework

Materiales en Español

Citation

(2018). ARSET - Monitoring Urban Floods Using Remote Sensing. NASA Applied Remote Sensing Training Program (ARSET). https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/trainings/monitoring-urban-floods-using-remote-sensing. 

Find More ARSET Trainings

Details

Last Updated

Jan. 15, 2026

Published

July 25, 2018

Data Center/Project

Applied Remote Sensing Training Program (ARSET)