Science team plots map to Haiti rescue

A team of dedicated scientists who map disaster zones are using their expertise to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

Staff at ImageCat in Ashtead have been working round-the-clock to generate images of the disaster zone in Port-au-Prince since the massive quake struck on January 12.

The dramatic pictures, produced using a web-tool designed by the Woodfield Lane company, are being used in rescue efforts to save earthquake victims and help co-ordinate the massive aid relief taking place.

Using their Virtual Disaster Viewer, the team has mapped many of the world's major disasters including Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

But Ashtead-based scientist Matthew Honey said he was shocked by the amount of devastation caused by the Haiti quake when the aerial images emerged.

He said: "We could see complete devastation. In the regions that were worst hit, and especially in the city centre, it was quite horrifying to see the amount of buildings collapsed. You could almost tell from that the number of bodies that would be pulled out."

Their vital work culminated on January 23 in coordinating a team of more than 700 scientists across the world in an operation known as Geo-Can (Global Earth Observation Catastrophe Network).

The team divided up a 300-square kilometre area of the earthquake zone for scientists to examine for damage assessment.

Dr Beverley Adams, managing director of ImageCat's European operations, said: "Geo-Can is unique. Nothing like this has existed before, bringing together so many experts willing to devote their time for the greater good of the Haitian people."

The experts have been scrutinising photos taken from planes flying at 6,000ft, which show highly detailed images of crumbled buildings, cars, vegetation and even folds in tents in temporary encampments.

They send details of the extent of damage to buildings and infrastructure and where refugees are congregating.

Eventually, the images will be used to rebuild the disaster zone.

The Ashtead team said they had been working almost non-stop to produce detailed images since being contracted by the World Bank.