As reported by planet.com, natural disasters have intensified across Central and South America due to climate change, with forest fires, floods, and landslides occurring more frequently.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the region has seen a 23% rise in natural disasters over the last decade, driven by the increasing intensity of extreme weather events.
This rise in disaster frequency has prompted both public and private sectors to explore new approaches to disaster risk management, including the integration of real-time satellite data to protect vulnerable communities.
At a recent event in Bogotá, Colombia, titled “Planet On The Road,” experts highlighted the role of satellite monitoring in disaster preparedness and response across the region.
At Colombia’s Hidroituango hydropower project, flood and landslide risks have been a major concern for local communities and environmental safety.
Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM), responsible for managing the dam, relies on satellite data for ongoing risk assessment.
William Ramírez, an Environmental, Social, and Sustainability Professional at EPM, explained the critical role of satellite monitoring: “Satellite monitoring allowed us to control and characterize the phenomena.
“That does not only involve the threat of flooding but other types of threats of natural or human origin.”
This real-time data has enabled EPM to implement measures to protect the infrastructure and nearby communities along the Cauca River.
In Chile, the use of real-time satellite data has been pivotal in fighting wildfires.
Valentina Espinosa, General Manager of Raster4, shared how satellite data played a crucial role during the Valparaíso wildfire earlier this year. “Before Planet, we were essentially blind,” she said.
The data allowed for the automatic detection of affected areas and facilitated faster communication with municipalities and government agencies.
Espinosa highlighted how automation through deep learning significantly reduced the time needed to process data: “By delivering data in practically real-time, they could see what the best evacuation routes were and deliver this information to firefighters.” The swift action enabled by this technology saved lives and minimized damage in the fire-ravaged areas.
In addition to real-time responses, advances in AI and big data have made it possible to predict and mitigate disaster risks before they occur.
Marta Valbuena, Research and Development Manager at Procalculo, discussed how her team uses satellite imagery combined with AI to anticipate risks across Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.
Procalculo’s predictive models consider both natural and human-made factors, such as topography, rainfall, and population density, to assess vulnerability to disasters like fires and floods.
Valbuena noted: “The detailed and frequent data from Planet allows us to enrich our artificial intelligence processes to carry out different analyses with better performance.” This proactive approach to disaster risk management helps communities prepare more effectively for future events.
Across Latin America, governments and organizations are leveraging technology to shift from reactive to proactive disaster management.
Real-time satellite data and AI-driven models have accelerated disaster response efforts and provided crucial insights for mitigating risks before they escalate into full-scale disasters.
The collaboration between public and private sectors has also spurred the development of innovative tools that can save lives and protect infrastructure.
As climate change continues to intensify natural disasters, these data-driven approaches will play an increasingly important role in safeguarding vulnerable regions.
As extreme weather events become more frequent due to climate change, Central and South America face growing risks of natural disasters such as floods, landslides, and wildfires.
Public and private sectors have turned to real-time satellite data to monitor risks and respond swiftly.
In Colombia, Empresas Públicas de Medellín uses satellite imagery to assess threats to the Hidroituango hydropower project.
In Chile, Raster4 applied satellite data to fight wildfires, while Procalculo uses AI models to predict risks across Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.
These technological innovations are transforming disaster management across the region.
