The role of remote sensing in earthquake science and engineering: Opportunities and challenges

Earthquake science and engineering are experience-driven fields in which lessons are learned after each significant earthquake. Remote sensing represents a suite of technologies that can play a significant role in documenting the effects of earthquakes and lead to important developments in our understanding of earthquakes. This paper describes current remote sensing technologies and the experience to date in using them in earthquake studies. The most promising activities that may benefit from remote sensing data products are identified, as well as the challenges that may impede the widespread use of remote sensing in earthquake studies. A comprehensive review of the use of remote sensing to document the effects of the 2003 Bam, Iran earthquake is presented, and recommendations for future developments in remote sensing in the context of earthquake science and engineering are provided.