INTRODUCTION

In August 2002, the Digital Earth and Disaster Reduction Research Center (DEDRRC) was established in association with the geospatial information science program. The first director of the center is Dr. Yeong Tein Yeh, who is also the Dean of the College of Engineering.

Due to the special geographic location of Taiwan, natural forces such as typhoons, heavy rains, and mudflows are major menaces that devastate our island. Furthermore, Taiwan is located on the Circum-Pacific seismic belt. Dozens of devastating earthquakes have occurred over the past one hundred years. The destruction caused by September 21, 1999’s Chi-Chi earthquake (magnitude 7.3) was a powerful call for Taiwan to redouble its earthquake research efforts. Although these violent natural disturbances are still unavoidable, it is well recognized that it is absolutely necessary to prepare and analyze sufficient spatial and geographic information about the island for hazard mitigation.