Mapping for crisis management: DG-ECHO daily/situation maps : January - March 2023

Disaster Risk Management (DRM) is a complex and interdisciplinary field that requires accurate, reliable visual products and reporting material to support the decision making process. In the disaster cycle there are two key phases to consider: before and after the event. Each phase consists of various components. The pre-occurrence phase focuses on risk assessment, prevention and preparedness, while the post-occurrence phase encompasses response to the event, damage assessment, and recovery/restoration. The main objective of this quarterly report is to show how the European Crisis Management Laboratory (ECML) Mapping Team at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) contributes in delineating all the components of those phases with its daily situational awareness reports (ECHO Daily Flash and ECHO Daily Maps) and on-demand products (ECHO Situation Maps/Infographics). The team uses a variety of data sources (e.g. satellite imagery, geographical and ancillary data, statistical repositories), to produce maps and situational reports that depict the spatial distribution of hazards, vulnerabilities, as well as capacities in coping with them. In so doing it collaborates with experts from other fields inside and outside the European Commission. Besides contributing to identifying high-risk areas, helping in prioritize interventions and facilitate the communication with stakeholders, these products also represent an essential tool used by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) at the Director General European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) for its daily activity of monitoring disasters occurring all over the globe. The function of the ECML Mapping Team is a crucial and challenging one that requires a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach along with the employment of various highly specialized skills and expertise. This report will introduce and explain the essential contribution of the team in maximizing the outcomes when analysing disaster events and their management.