COSMO-SkyMed mission: Risk management applications over China, myanmar and haiti conducted during 2008

Between 2007 and 2008, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) and Ministero della Difesa (Italian Ministry of Defence) launched three out of the four X-band SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellites of the Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean Basin Observation (COSMO-SkyMed) dual-use (civilian and defence) mission, dedicated to Earth observation. The results received from the utilization of the two operative satellites of the constellation reveal the significant achievement of the X-band SAR sensor and the importance of a fast response time in risk management applications. This article presents the qualitative analyses and results related to a set of risk management applications of the year 2008 by ASI and e-GEOS pertaining to China, Myanmar and Haiti. © 2012 Taylor & Francis.