Implementing A resistance-relief approach into evaluating urban disaster management capacity: A case study of Xuzhou

Abstract

In the field of disaster management, urban planning is a crucial tool for reducing the vulnerability of areas prone to natural disasters. Assessing the disaster management efficacy of urban planning is essential. However, the theoretical evaluation frameworks and precise assessment methods currently available are quite limited. Therefore, this study developed a new Resistance-Relief (2Rs) approach to evaluate disaster management capabilities in different regions. Based on the “2Rs” evaluation framework, an indicator system was developed to assess disaster management capabilities at the level of urban planning and construction. On this basis, a directed weighted graph model was established to comprehensively evaluate a city's disaster resistance and disaster relief capabilities, addressing the accuracy and comprehensiveness issues commonly found in single-dimensional evaluations. Furthermore, an indicator sensitivity analysis method based on the cloud model was proposed to analyze the sensitivity of evaluation indicators and the robustness of evaluation results. Using actual urban planning and construction data, this method was applied to assess seven disaster management zones in Xuzhou City, China. The results revealed inadequacies in the city's disaster preparedness and mitigation construction, as well as key factors affecting Xuzhou's disaster management capabilities. This new method contributes to further improvements in both disaster risk management and urban disaster prevention and mitigation planning.