The Progressive Use of Satellite Technology for Disaster Management Relief: Challenges to a Legal and Policy Framework

All countries, even rich ones, are vulnerable to natural disasters. While this may not be avoidable the impacts on affected populations can be minimized  through implementing an efficient disaster management policy. This is particularly significant given that the cost to human life and the economy rises each year, regardless of how many natural disasters occur per annum. For instance, 244 million victims were impacted by natural disasters in 2011, compared with 217 million victims in 2010. In 2011 an estimated US$366 billion was incurred in damages.This is three times the damages incurred in 2010, which was registered at US$109 billion. Consequently, national governments and the international community have recognized the necessity of using all available assets and means for effectuating a more progressive disaster management practice. Remote sensing technologies, in particular, have proven to be a most useful tool and have been utilized in several natural disasters situations, such as the Sichuan Earthquake in China in 2008, the Honshu Tsunami in Japan in 2011, and Hurricane Sandy in the US in 2012. Many challenges still remain before these satellite applications can be made widely accessible to all nations for disaster management. This paper identifies ongoing challenges in space policy and law, correlating remote sensing practices, and data sharing issues for humanitarian relief following natural disasters. This  paper concludes that, a new policy framework should be developed specific to the application of satellite technologies for disaster management.