Advanced Remote Sensing Techniques Reveal Extensive Damage on Estero Island from Hurricane Ian
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University use aerial imagery and LiDAR to assess the impact, identifying over 2,400 structures with varying degrees of damage.
- Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm, caused significant destruction in Southwest Florida with winds up to 155 mph and a 13-foot storm surge.
- The new remote sensing method allowed for rapid, detailed assessments of damage, surpassing traditional field reconnaissance methods.
- A total of 2,427 structures on Estero Island were affected, with 170 suffering extensive damage and more than $200 million in estimated losses.
- The study highlighted no correlation between the age or elevation of buildings and the extent of damage, underscoring the storm's indiscriminate impact.
- This technology promises to enhance disaster response and planning, offering high-resolution data crucial for emergency management.
ScienceDaily 