Sendai (Japan) Earthquake and Tsunami Mapping Response

The 8.9 magnitude Sendai earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan just east of the island of Hoshu today has resulted in a slew of mapping resources to help understand the geography of this natural disaster and coordinate the response.

Japan Earthquake Map Viewer – Researchers at Texas Tech’s Center for Geospatial Technologies has created a ArcGIS Viewer with Flex mapping application that maps the locations of near real-time aftershocks.

Japan Sendai Earthquake Data Portal – Data portal launched by the Harvard Center for Geographic Analysis to “support the exchange of geospatial datasets for relief and reconstruction efforts.”

Earthquake Tohoku area in Japan 3/11 – local Ushahidi created by Shu Sigashi, a member of the OpenStreetMap Foundation in Japan.

USGS earthquake near the coast of Hoshu page – contains summary information, maps, and technical information about the earthquake.

OpenStreetMap’s 2011 Sendai Earthquake wiki page

Esri’s Japan Incident Map – Esri also issued a press release about their involvement: Esri Assists Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Response

Google’s Sendai Earthquake Map – map with layers that can be toggled on and off including USGS shakemap, earthquake and aftershock locations, shelter locations, and earth’s tectonic plates.  All layers have a KML download link.

Earthquake Related Tweets – Sendai earthquake related tweet map created by Virender Ajmani.  (Via Google Earth Blog)

 

 

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center – geolocated warnings from NOAA’s National Weather Service.

Map Visage – each marker on this Google Map lists the location and anticipated time of arrival for the tsunami.

NOAA Tsunami Wave Height Model – also check out the animation view. (Via @cageyjames)

 

Google has set up a “2011 Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami” page as part of their Google Crisis Response effort which lists resources, access to their People Finder application, and streaming news and twitter feeds.

 

Share this article