work is underway to create a gis database for 170 flood, earthquake and hazard prone districts as the Indian Space Research Organisation (isro) puts together information provided by Survey of India and the Central Water Commission. The data bank will contain spatial data with maps and non-spatial data or details on land use pattern, terrain morphology, infrastructure network, socio-economic information, in tabular form linked to maps.

Space technology has emerged as the only way of mapping and anaylsing areas affected by natural disasters, as remote sensing satellites are equipped with high-resolution sensors that can provide finer details of ground with synoptic view. After completing 170 districts in the first phase, subsequent hazard prone districts of the country will be covered

Under this, a case study was done using gis techniques for assessing flood damage in Marigoan district of Assam in 1998 which showed the change in course of the Brahmaputra in 30-35 years.

The gis data will be made available to the ministry of home affairs, central relief commissioner and concerned state relief departments. Though it will not be in the public domain and will be of classified nature.