Evacuation Routes and Safe Areas for Vulnerable Groups: From Space Technology to Strengthen Disaster Preparedness and to Drive Thailand Toward “Resilient City”.

Amid disaster severity and complexity, strengthening preparedness and developing urban areas into Resilient Cities has become a major priority in disaster risk management worldwide. A Resilient City is one that has the capacity to help prevent disasters, reduce losses, protect communities, and accelerate recovery after emergencies.

   Regarding the mentioned challenges, the Social Stability Division, Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization), or GISTDA, has been applying satellite technology and space-based data to improve spatial health services for the public through the LifeDee application. As part of its efforts to promote greater social equality, GISTDA is also expanding the users to support the vulnerable groups. This innovation has led to the development of evacuation routes and safe areas for vulnerable groups, which will become a new feature of the LifeDee application. The feature is expected to be completed and ready for public use within 2026.

   Dr. Chanika Sukawattanavijit, the head of the Social Stability Division, Office of Geo-Informatics Development and Application, GISTDA, explained that this feature was inspired by the major flood in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, at the end of 2025. 

   GISTDA developed a flood impact assessment model which enabled authorities to identify flood-affected areas and potential safe locations while also calculating appropriate evacuation routes. The model was subsequently developed into an evacuation-route and safe-area maps for vulnerable groups, with Hat Yai as the first pilot area. Also, the process is being carried out in collaboration with Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, considered as the second pilot area, due to its sufficient water-level monitoring stations.

   “Key lessons learned from the Hat Yai major flood led to the concept of developing evacuation-route and safety-area maps for vulnerable groups during flood emergencies,” Dr. Chanika said. “The system intended to provide authorities with an immediate overview of risk areas and safe areas to reduce the  decision-making errors in evacuation and to verify  accessible routes under actual conditions. In the future, GISTDA plans to connect near-real-time flood data, risk level, vulnerable resident locations, designated safe points, and road networks to assess safe areas and recommend the most appropriate evacuation routes according to the specific situation.”

   The Social Stability Division at GISTDA is advancing the nationwide coverage expansion of the evacuation-route and safe-area mapping systems for vulnerable groups, while ensuring alignment with international standards. The designated safe areas to be considered for suitable evacuation center establishment must be located at least 2-3 meters above the projected flood level, at least 300 metres away from rivers and canals, outside areas prone to recurrent flooding, and within reasonable proximity to public utilities and infrastructure.

   Developing the evacuation route for vulnerable groups requires detailed information including  the household geographic coordinates of people with disabilities, bedridden patients, and the elderly. During an emergency, this information would enable the responsible agencies to locate and assist vulnerable residents more quickly. However, the availability and collection of such will depend on the readiness of each municipality.

   The technology supporting LifeDEE’s spatial health services including the evacuation-route and safe-area map features for vulnerable groups, will integrate satellite data, ground measuring stations, model development, and AI analysis. In addition, the LifeDee application applies “Digital Twins” technology to encourage more effective Smart City management across multiple dimensions. GISTDA aims to expand the services across 15 provinces, with initial pilot projects in four major provinces which are Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Chon Buri, and Phuket.

   Chon Buri Municipality is one of the pilot areas collaborating with GISTDA to efficiently optimize a Digital Twins development to support scenario simulation and improve planning and urban management across various dimensions .

   Chon Buri Municipality currently faces a number of challenges as an economic hub and a densely populated old community spanning approximately 4.5 square kilometers characterized by narrow alleys and houses constructed close together. Such physical conditions pose significant obstacles for large ambulances to access the community during emergencies. Furthermore, the municipality experiences localized flooding caused by a combination of high tides and heavy rainfall. Another challenge is the presence of a non-registered population which significantly exceeds the population record in the official household registration system. These factors make management of public safety and public health extremely difficult.

   Mr. Kulapach Lhapawong, Geo-Informatics Officer at GISTDA’s Social Stability Division,  explained that the development of the Digital Twins project in Chon Buri Municipality is designed to establish the foundation for Smart City development in various aspects. The project includes CCTV-based public safety monitoring and crime-risk analysis, urban air pollution monitoring, assessment of rooftop solar energy potential, flood management, and, most recently, public-services accessibility system for people with disabilities and the elderly. GISTDA collects the geographic coordinates of accessible facilities throughout the municipalities, such as disabled person parking spaces, ramps, and restrooms, allowing people with disabilities and the elderly to search for such facilities and navigate themselves to accessible locations through the LifeDee application.

   Regarding evacuation routes for vulnerable groups in case of emergency will be developed as an extension project leveraging on a public-service accessibility system. Although the evacuation service has not yet been officially launched, GISTDA has already applied this concept to the Chon Buri Municipality by simulating suitable parking for golf-cart ambulances. These vehicles can enter narrow alleys that conventional ambulances are unable to access, allowing medical staff to reach patients quickly.

   “Based on data from vulnerable groups in the Chon Buri Municipal, GISTDA has combined the Ministry of Public Health's health assessment criteria with spatial data to improve the management of emergency assistance for vulnerable groups,” Mr. Kullaphat said. “The analysis considers high-priority groups requiring special monitoring, such as bedridden patients and the elderly living alone who may require urgent assistance. Moreover, travel time is also incorporated into the assessment as time constraints due to traffic congestion from narrow roads characteristic of the Chon Buri Municipal area. In an emergency, additional time may be required to provide initial medical assistance before transporting to a hospital. The target users of this system are emergency vehicle management personnel stationed at designated locations, enabling them to determine the optimal pick-up point and the fastest route to the hospital,” he explained.

   Mr. Kullaphat also mentioned that the Chon Buri Municipality has never experienced a major flood on a scale that would require evacuation. Most flooding is caused by high tides. Therefore, emergency evacuation of vulnerable groups do not necessarily have to be limited to floods. The model could also be applied to other events, such as fires, which are frequent in Chon Buri Province. In the future, the research team plans to develop additional models for different types of emergencies regarding the specific risks, physical environments, and needs of each area.

The development of “GISTDA's Evacuation Route and Safe Area Map for Vulnerable Groups” is a significant step in leveraging space technology and Digital Twin to effectively enhance spatial safety. This innovation not only strengthens preparedness for flood disasters but can also be adapted to a wide range of emergencies in the future. The initiative can help reduce social inequalities and increase opportunities to timely assist vulnerable groups. More importantly, it demonstrates the power of collaboration among related sectors in driving Thailand towards becoming a Resilient City that is capable of responding, adapting, and recovering rapidly and sustainably from future crises.