Mapping Hazards

Over the past few years, mapping hazards has come more into the public eye. This has been the case for many reasons, but primarily, it is because the public wants to know how much damage has been caused by natural disasters. Because of the extent of this damage, people want to know more about their own risk of being in danger. This is where modeling comes into play. Geographers as well as specialists in many other fields have been able to map potential threats with increasing ease because of the use of G.I.S. and can make several different maps displaying several different outcomes based on information of these hazards. The very first time I saw a hazard map was when I was in the army. At the time, I didn't think alot of it because it was just a tool that was given to us to help us stay alive, but this landmine field map was precisely a hazard map. Next was our standard aviator maps. These maps listed several hazards ranging from power lines, to towers that had suffecient height to be a danger to the hellicopter and its crew. But once I arrived to college, I started to see a completely different hazard map. These maps ranged from fault line geological maps, to flood plane maps. The one thing that all of these maps had in common though were the predicition of certain hazards under certain conditions. Now, even in vehicles, we have up to date hazard maps that outline construction zones and current traffic conditions and can help us circumnavigate these hazards. Point in hand, mapping hazards is all about prevention. Prevention of damage to body and property and they are becoming more frequent in our everyday lives. What was once a map designed to show the aftermath of a disaster, is now a map showing the possible effects of a disaster and how to help prepare or prevent these hazards from adversly affecting you.