Post-event only VHR radar satellite data for automated damage assessment: a study on COSMO/SkyMed and the 2010 Haiti earthquake

In recent years, a number of destructive earthquakes took place around the world. Earth Observation (EO) -based damage assessment was among the tools used to coordinate relief efforts; most of the published maps, however, are still based on weather-dependent optical data and visual interpretation. Only recently, methods based on radar data began to emerge, although not yet consolidated. In this paper we elaborate on a method for damage assessment on urban areas set up on the occasion of the 2008 Sichuan event and tuned on the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake; direct investigation of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, providing an even larger statistical base thanks to the extent of the Port-au-Prince urban area, allowed pinpointing some characteristic behaviours, potentially useful to improve damage assessment results. In particular, we note how results changed thanks to a more reliable and accurate revision of ground truth data and outline a possible start point for correction of damage over/underestimation. Quantitative results are provided.