Contribution of Geographical Information Systems to the Management of Volcanic Crises

The incorporation of a set of computer-based tools, such as Geographical Information Systems and physical models, to the field of risk assessment, introduces a new perspective in the volcanic risk maps production, increasing the analysis and modelling capabilities available through the application of conventional methodologies. A methodology adapted to the requirements and characteristics of the new operating environment has been applied at Tenerife island (Canary Islands, Spain) to carry out a study devoted to analyse the suitability of these tools for near real-time management of volcanic crises. With this in mind, a series of potential eruption scenarios have been selected to identify and characterise which elements at risk would prove most vulnerable against a specific volcanic phenomenon, depending on the socio-economic characteristics of the area affected and the resulting distribution of the volcanic products. This kind of information is fundamental to update, adapt or produce effective risk management and emergency plans or protocols, where the measures to mitigate or fight against a specific volcanic disaster have to be taken, incorporating the existing knowledge of the phenomenon behaviour and taking into account their potential effects on the area of interest.