A Comprehensive Assessment of Exposure and Vulnerabilities in Multi-Hazard Urban Environments: A Key Tool for Risk-Informed Planning Strategies

Although the increase in the frequency and intensity of disasters assigns a key role to disaster risk management in current debate on sustainable development, the efforts of national and local authorities to develop risk-informed planning strategies and increase disaster preparedness are still limited. In multi-hazard urban environments, the main criticality to support risk-informed planning strategies is the persisting lack of effective knowledge bases focused on the vulnerability of exposed assets to different hazards. Hence, this contribution, according to the first priority of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction—understanding disaster risk—and by tidying up methods and indicators developed in both EU research projects and scientific studies devoted to multi-risk and vulnerability assessment, aims at better using available knowledge to guide risk-informed spatial planning. In detail, an indicator-based method to carry out a comprehensive exposure and vulnerability analysis has been outlined and tested on a case study area, the multi-hazard urban area of Campi Flegrei, located in the western part of the metropolitan city of Naples in the South of Italy. The proposed method may contribute to the building up of an effective risk knowledge base, enabling planners to easily access information on exposure and vulnerabilities to different hazards, and to differently combine them into output maps capable of supporting risk- informed planning strategies.

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Understanding the Role of Urban Morphology and Green Areas Configuration During Heat Waves

Megacities and Rapid Urbanization ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-9276-1.ch025 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 502-517

Author(s):

Marialuce Stanganelli ◽

Carlo Gerundo

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Statistical Correlation ◽

Urban Morphology ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Open Spaces ◽

Green Areas ◽

Planning Strategies

This paper focuses on urban planning strategies to adapt cities to the increasing rising of temperatures during summer heat waves. The main target is to investigate which configuration and distribution pattern of green spaces could effectively improve natural cooling of urban environments. Although the benefit that green areas give to natural cooling is well known, this kind of studies has hardly been carried out, especially at an urban scale where it is crucial to define quantities and density of green areas to address open spaces design. To reach this goal, a methodology based on the interpretation of the statistical correlation among temperature, urban parameters and green areas configurational indicators was implemented and applied to the case study of the Municipality of Naples, performing all the analysis in a GIS. Results provide guidelines to improve natural cooling in urban areas adopting the most effective configuration and distribution of green areas within a densely-built context.

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CCOUC Ethnic Minority Health Project: A Case Study for Health EDRM Initiatives to Improve Disaster Preparedness in a Rural Chinese Population

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105322 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5322

Author(s):

Kevin K. C. Hung ◽

Makiko K. MacDermot ◽

Emily Y. Y. Chan ◽

Sida Liu ◽

Zhe Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Ethnic Minority ◽

Minority Health ◽

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Disaster Risk ◽

Development Project ◽

Disaster Risk Management ◽

Health Project ◽

Education Interventions

Disasters disproportionately impact poor and marginalised populations due to greater vulnerability induced by various risk determinants, such as compromised living conditions, language barriers, and limited resources for disaster risk management. Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health EDRM) emphasises a people- and community-centred approach for building stronger capacities in communities and countries since community members are often the first responders to health emergencies and should be central to effective risk management. A key action for promoting community disaster preparedness is the provision of Health EDRM education interventions. The Ethnic Minority Health Project (EHMP) has provided community-based Health EDRM education interventions in 16 ethnic minority-based villages in remote areas of China since 2009. It aims to enhance community disaster preparedness and resilience by improving health-risk literacy and self-help capacity at the individual and household levels. This case study outlines the first EHMP project in an ethnic minority-based community (Ma’an Qiao Village) in Sichuan Province, China. It highlights the key elements for planning and managing such a project and is a good demonstration of an effective Health EDRM workforce development project in rural communities. This report concludes with five recommendations for setting up a sustainable and effective Health EDRM education intervention in similar contexts.

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Understanding the Role of Urban Morphology and Green Areas Configuration During Heat Waves

International Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Information Systems ◽

10.4018/ijaeis.2017040104 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 50-64

Author(s):

Marialuce Stanganelli ◽

Carlo Gerundo

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Statistical Correlation ◽

Urban Morphology ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Open Spaces ◽

Green Areas ◽

Planning Strategies

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Can Disaster Risk Education Reduce the Impacts of Recurring Disasters on Developing Societies?

Education and Urban Society ◽

10.1177/0013124517713111 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 50 (3) ◽

pp. 230-245 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hoda Baytiyeh

Keyword(s):

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Risk Mitigation ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Disaster Risk ◽

Prevention Education ◽

Risk Education ◽

Shed Light ◽

School Curricula

The impacts of recurring disasters on vulnerable urban societies have been tragic in terms of destruction and fatalities. However, disaster risk education that promotes risk mitigation and disaster preparedness has been shown to be effective in minimizing the impacts of recurring disasters on urban societies. Although the recent integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) into school curricula in developing countries has improved public awareness about hazards and potential disaster risks, its effectiveness in reducing the impacts of future disasters remains uncertain. This article stresses the potential role of disaster prevention education and argues that, even after substantial effort, significant financial, cultural, and technical barriers remain to integrating DRR into school curricula. This critique provides detailed examples that shed light on both the achievements and the challenges that hinder the integration of disaster risk education into school curricula, focusing on the case study of DRR education in Lebanon.

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Cyberphysical Design Automation Framework for Knowledge-based Engineering

Journal of Innovation Management ◽

10.24840/2183-0606_001.001_0011 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 158-178

Author(s):

Urcun John Tanik

Keyword(s):

System Design ◽

Design Process ◽

Design Automation ◽

Design Theory ◽

Knowledge Bases ◽

Knowledge Based ◽

Knowledge Based Engineering ◽

Cyberphysical System ◽

Automation Framework

Cyberphysical system design automation utilizing knowledge based engineering techniques with globally networked knowledge bases can tremendously improve the design process for emerging systems. Our goal is to develop a comprehensive architectural framework to improve the design process for cyberphysical systems (CPS) and implement a case study with Axiomatic Design Solutions Inc. to develop next generation toolsets utilizing knowledge-based engineering (KBE) systems adapted to multiple domains in the field of CPS design automation. The Cyberphysical System Design Automation Framework (CPSDAF) will be based on advances in CPS design theory based on current research and knowledge collected from global sources automatically via Semantic Web Services. A case study utilizing STEM students is discussed.

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THE ROLE OF EDUCATION ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS CASE STUDY OF 2012 INDIAN OCEAN EARTHQUAKES ON THAILAND’S

Tạp chí Nghiên cứu dân tộc ◽

10.25073/0866-773x/72 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Raya Muttarak ◽

Wiraporn Pothisiri

Keyword(s):

Indian Ocean ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Formal Education ◽

Disaster Experience ◽

Individual Household ◽

The Indian Ocean ◽

The Individual

In this paper we investigate how well residents of the Andaman coast in Phang Nga province, Thailand, are prepared for earthquakes and tsunami. It is hypothesized that formal education can promote disaster preparedness because education enhances individual cognitive and learning skills, as well as access to information. A survey was conducted of 557 households in the areas that received tsunami warnings following the Indian Ocean earthquakes on 11 April 2012. Interviews were carried out during the period of numerous aftershocks, which put residents in the region on high alert. The respondents were asked what emergency preparedness measures they had taken following the 11 April earthquakes. Using the partial proportional odds model, the paper investigates determinants of personal disaster preparedness measured as the number of preparedness actions taken. Controlling for village effects, we find that formal education, measured at the individual, household, and community levels, has a positive relationship with taking preparedness measures. For the survey group without past disaster experience, the education level of household members is positively related to disaster preparedness. The findings also show that disaster related training is most effective for individuals with high educational attainment. Furthermore, living in a community with a higher proportion of women who have at least a secondary education increases the likelihood of disaster preparedness. In conclusion, we found that formal education can increase disaster preparedness and reduce vulnerability to natural hazards.

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Elementary Study on Natural Disaster Risk Mapping Generalization Based on Drawinglayer Constraint—A Case Study in the Arid Regions in Northwest China

Arid Zone Research ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1148.2010.00013 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 13-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Dong-hua PAN ◽

Jing-ai WANG ◽

Ying WANG ◽

Hui-cong JIA

Keyword(s):

Natural Disaster ◽

Arid Regions ◽

Northwest China ◽

Disaster Risk ◽

Risk Mapping ◽

Natural Disaster Risk ◽

The Arid Regions

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Can Urban Parks Help with Disaster Risk Reduction through Educational Awareness? A Case Study of Hurricane Harvey

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction ◽

10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102377 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 102377

Author(s):

Yalcin Yildirim ◽

Golnaz Keshavarzi ◽

Amanda R. Aman

Keyword(s):

Risk Reduction ◽

Disaster Risk Reduction ◽

Urban Parks ◽

Disaster Risk

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Multi-Risk Assessment and Management—A Comparative Study of the Current State of Affairs in Chile and Ecuador

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13031366 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 1366

Author(s):

Stefan Greiving ◽

Leonie Schödl ◽

Karl-Heinz Gaudry ◽

Iris Katherine Quintana Miralles ◽

Benjamín Prado Larraín ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Disaster Risk ◽

International Strategy ◽

Metropolitan Regions ◽

Current State ◽

Policy Goals ◽

Development Goals ◽

State Of Affairs ◽

Output Indicators

In Chile and Ecuador, multiple hazards and dynamic processes in vulnerability pose a high risk. Spatial planning and emergency management can contribute to disaster risk management but they follow different goals. However, global goals, such as from UN-ISDR (United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction) and UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) can potentially support cities and regions in defining concerted action. This paper aims at measuring the performance of Chile and Ecuador in regard to the aforementioned policy goals. Although both countries show considerable progresses in the implementation of the UN strategies, it is doubtful that the existing global monitoring approach is appropriately designed for measuring the real situation on the ground. Our paper is based on a desktop research combined with stakeholder workshops and expert interviews. Overall, both countries made considerable progress in regard to disaster preparedness and monitoring. However, multi-risks are rarely considered and there is still increasing vulnerability due to the expansion of informal settlements. The risk management is characterized by an imbalanced distribution of financial resources and institutional capacities between the metropolitan regions and smaller municipalities, and by low public participation and hardly community-based approaches. The paper underlines the importance for more qualitative, in-depth studies on the root causes of disaster risk which could complement the global monitoring which is very much focused on quantitative data and shows inconsistency between input and output indicators.

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