Abstract

The goal of our group was to analyze the change in Indonesia, more particularly Banda Aceh, suffered from the Tsunami that hit December 26th, 2004. Our results show the extent of the destruction that the Tsunami left Indonesia on a global scale. We have analyzed images taken in December 2004, prior to the Tsunami hitting, February 2005 and in June 2009. With each of these images it is easy to identify the devastation, the rebuilding and relocation of people after the Tsunami. Images taken in RGB color (Red, Green, Blue; what is seen by the human eye) shows the destruction and rebuilding at a quick glance. One can look at the coastlines and see how they have changed, along with loss of a significant amount of lush vegetation.

Images shown in the Infrared give the opportunity to see beyond what the human eye cannot see. Images in the infrared show moisture content in the soil as well as healthy vegetation. This allowed for our group to take an even closer look at the trauma, and provided more evidence as to where exactly the destruction of the tsunami tore through Indonesia.

Using nightlight data, we were able to show the tsunami's destruction of heavily populated areas of the island. This allows us to identify how fast the people of the area were able to rebuild the damaged infrastructure, and places they found most favorable for the relocation of their towns.

Through the SRTM elevation map of Banda Aceh, we were able to see the areas of low elevation which were affected the most by water damage from the Tsunami. This gave us the opportunity to the areas affected most by water damage.

Through the use of these devices it has allowed us to witness the extent of destruction caused by the 2004 Tsunami and understand where and when rebuilding took place and where the relocation of people took place.