The Center for Satellite based Crisis Information (ZKI) is an institution of the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen.

At ZKI Earth Observation data such as satellite or aerial imagery as well as geo data is acquired and analysed in order to generate up-to-date situational awareness information before, during or after a disaster situation or in case of major events. All crisis information is produced according to the ZKI users’ requirements and provided for instance as maps, geo-pdf, web services or text dossiers. Main national and international user groups are political decision makers, situation centers and relief organisations. Many ZKI products are published at the website. In addition, consultancy, technology transfer as well as trainings and exercises are provided. The close interlocking between research, development and service is an enormous strength of the ZKI.

The ZKI cooperates in the national and international context with various partners from research and industry and is closely networked with official partners and non-governmental organisations. It is mainly based on the national framework contract IF-BUND as well as the international services Copernicus EMS and International Charter "Space and Major Disasters".

Exercise and UAV flight campaign in Ahrtal as part of the AIFER project 22./23. October 2021 On October 22/23, 2021 an exercise and flight campaign with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) has been coordinated jointly by the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK), Department Rettungsdienst – Sicherheitsforschung and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) – Center for satellite-based crisis information (ZKI) in the Ahrtal region. More

ZKI receives high award “Badge of Honour for German Aerospace” from DGLR 03 September 2021 On April 1, 2004 the German Remote Sensing Data Center founded an innovative service in the Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information (ZKI). Since that time, ZKI has decisively contributed in a variety of ways to the employment and establishment of remote sensing in the sphere of state and public administration in Germany, Europe and internationally. ZKI has now been awarded the “Badge of Honour for German Aerospace” for its “outstanding achievements in the use of earth observation data in support of crisis management after natural disasters and in humanitarian aid globally” by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DGLR). More

Storms and heavy rain cause floods in Western Germany 15 July 2021 Storms and prolonged heavy rain caused numerous floods and associated damage in western Germany. Locations in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate are particularly affected. Several rivers and streams have burst their banks, roads have been flooded and cellars have been filled. Numerous buildings and infrastructures were destroyed in the course of the storms. Currently, more than 40 people have lost their lives and others are still missing. More

Tornado in South Moravia, Czech Republic 24 June 2021 An unusual strong tornado by European Standards, reaching category F3/F4, passed through the South Moravian region of the Czech Republic on June 24, 2021. The tornado claimed several casualties and more than 200 injuries. Seven villages located between Břeclav and Hodonín were devastated by the destructive winds with speeds between 254 and 332 km/h accompanied by hailstones of above-average size. Besides severe damages to buildings, uprooting trees, overturning cars and damage of power transmission infrastructure were also reported. More

“Forest Fire 2021” drill and devising new products with the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) 17 May 2021 On May 17, 2021 a joint “Forest Fire 2021” drill took place involving the Schweinfurt Integrated Control Centre of the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) and ZKI. Using various real-world response scenarios relating to the “forest fire” issue, staff of the Integrated BRK Control Centre in Schweinfurt underwent training in assessing the need for remote-sensing-based disaster information and subsequent activation procedures. More