Multi-indicator building vulnerability index for assessing tsunami-induced building damages

Mohd Muhaimin Ridwan Wong,Anawat Suppasri,Nordila Ahmad,Maidiana Othman,Syamsidik Syamsidik

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202234004002

Abstract

While relatively uncommon, tsunami typically leads to extreme and devastating impacts to human lives and development at far distances. Various international bodies and academic research have highlighted the importance of understanding risk and its determinants for effective risk management. Currently available methodologies to assess tsunami risk and the effect of vulnerability towards the resulting impact present opportunities for improvement particularly in their adaptability, accuracy and generalisability for pre- and post-disaster applications, as well as across temporal and geographical boundaries. This paper discusses the potential of a methodology to assess tsunami risk for buildings based on their vulnerability level, which in turn is determined through a set of vulnerability indicators. A vulnerability index equation consisting of four indicators namely building materials, number of storeys, coastal protective structures and coastal vegetation was formulated through the Analytical Hierarchy Process. The index is then applied for two major yet distinctly different tsunami events for the purpose of examining potential links between hazard intensity measure, building vulnerability and recorded impacts while also establishing basis for generalisability. While certain correlations can be observed, the findings are still at preliminary stage and thus approaches to further refine the index were proposed.

Highlights

For the last two decades, 271 tsunami events have been recorded resulting in over 300,000 casualties associated directly with these tsunami disasters [1]
The vulnerability index is applied to two tsunami events for the purpose of identifying the relationship that can be observed between all risk determinants involved
This paper provides a discussion for the potential, development, and application of a tool to assess vulnerability level of buildings in at-risk areas towards tsunami-induced building damages via a set of generalisable vulnerability indicators

Summary

Introduction

For the last two decades, 271 tsunami events have been recorded resulting in over 300,000 casualties associated directly with these tsunami disasters [1] Major tsunami events such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 2010 Chile tsunami, 2011 Japan tsunami and the 2018 Sulawesi tsunami accounted for majority of these casualties. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) strongly advocates for effective and comprehensive disaster risk management achievable through understanding disaster risk drivers which consist of hazards, exposure and vulnerabilities [3]. Subsequent to understanding these risk determinants, impacts both direct and indirect, tangible and intangible, can be better managed via various preparedness and mitigation strategies

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