Disaster response taps Oak Ridge population studies
Member Center:
December 28, 2004
KNOXVILLE (AP) -- Scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory believe their sophisticated mapping of global populations is helping disaster relief to Asian countries struck by a massive earthquake. [ deadly quake ]
The lab's LandScan Population Database was first created for the Department of Defense in 1998 and is updated annually. It pulls together census numbers, satellite imagery and geographic data to produce a unique map of the world.
The system predicts, to a degree, where people can be found, working, sleeping, driving, shopping, within one square kilometer.
At least 44,000 people are estimated killed and millions displaced by the earthquake and tsunamis unday across South and East Asia.
Oak Ridge lab officials say their data is useful now because information from other sources is pretty rudimentary in places like Asia.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Comments Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community. Please keep your comments civil and on point. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. By submitting a comment, you agree to these
Terms of Service
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login or register See all comments |
