A method for creating high resolution maps of social vulnerability in the context of environmental hazards

Abstract

The availability of demographic information from census data has enabled the development of indices that describe the relative social vulnerability of populations at different locations. These indices are often used in conjunction with models of physical exposure to environmental hazards, such as flooding and hazardous waste emission, to identify populations at greatest risk. However, using standard census areal units to calculate social vulnerability can lead to significant underestimation of vulnerable populations as environmental hazards typically occur on a finer spatial scale than census units such as block groups. This paper describes and illustrates a hybrid method for creating a social vulnerability index (SVI) at a tax parcel level by utilizing supplementary information about tax parcels to link cadastral dasymetric mapping techniques and established social vulnerability indexing methods. This high resolution social vulnerability index may be used for planning at the municipal level to address existing or potential environmental justice issues.