Urban Disaster Risk Reduction Research Articles

The Role of the Spatial Network in Urban Disaster Risk Variations: Reimagining the Notion of Spatial Vulnerability at the Urban Scale

The notion of “spatial vulnerability” is present in most disaster studies with a strong geographical connotation and accordingly is adopted at all scales, including the urban. While enabling mapping and visualizing risk patterns at macroscales, this geocentric foundation fails to capture disaster risk dynamics associated with the urban spatial network—an element that plays a significant role in the everyday and emergency functioning of cities, enabling users’ movement and interaction. Yet, urban vulnerability assessment overlooks this aspect and thus leaves urban disaster risk mechanisms partially unexplored. This study investigated the role of the network of urban public open spaces (UPOS) in the creation and progression of urban disaster risk in earthquake-prone settlements. Through a multimethod approach that integrates quantitative and qualitative methods and explores spatial configuration, planning policies, and practices of use of UPOS in everyday and emergency scenarios, our study demonstrated that UPOS configuration plays an active role in urban disaster risk. Urban public open spaces impact risk by influencing the exposure of pedestrians and their capacity for self-protection. The study further reconceptualized spatial vulnerability at the urban scale, as the fraction of vulnerability associated to the spatial network, highlighting the interplay of planning policies and spatial practices in its production and progression. Our findings make the notion of spatial vulnerability less ambiguous at the urban scale, by viewing the variable as an imbalance in capacities and exposure that generates spatially unsafe conditions. This refined conceptualization of spatial vulnerability becomes a lens for a more granular approach to urban disaster risk reduction and city planning by identifying and integrating sociospatial considerations.

A mixed-mode data collection approach for building inventory development: Application to school buildings in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Urban disaster risk management and reduction requires the development and periodic updating of regional building inventories. However, the development of such inventories can be very cost-intensive and time-consuming, making this a challenging task, particularly for low- and middle-income countries. This article discusses a mixed-mode building inventory data collection framework using a rapid and cost-effective remote survey technique that can be deployed in various geographic contexts. A key component of the proposed approach is an inter-rater reliability analysis of data collected from traditional sidewalk surveys and remote surveys for a small subset of buildings in the considered building portfolio, which is used to assess the suitability of the remote survey for the location(s) considered. The framework is demonstrated by developing a regional database of school buildings in the Central Sulawesi region of Indonesia. The database consists of 2536 school buildings from 454 elementary and high schools in the Palu, Sigi, and Donggala regions, susceptible to earthquake-induced ground shaking, tsunami, liquefaction, and landslides. The developed database can be used in pre-event/long-term risk analysis and management, post-event/near-real-time loss estimation, and regional-level decision-making on school assets and related policies. The database has been made available for public use and can be readily harmonized with similar databases for other regions.

The role of faith-based institutions in urban disaster risk reduction for immigrant communities

Drawing on interviews with Cambodian and Thai communities in Auckland, New Zealand, this paper examines the role of Buddhist temples in disaster preparedness, response and recovery and the hindrances to optimising this role. We find that among the communities, Buddhist temples are identified as sites of community organisation and information dissemination and would likely serve as important sites for seeking assistance during a major crisis. We thus argue that Buddhist temples have a role to assist their members to prepare for, respond to and recover from a major disaster. This is possible because these institutions are faith-bonded centres for regular congregations, reciprocity, charity and cultural attachment. However, their bridging and linking social capital, which is pivotal for performing this role, may be impeded by language barriers, generational divides, member exclusivity, personal conflicts and political divisions. We conclude that the role of faith-based institutions in disaster risk reduction in urban immigrant communities in the Global North should be examined in a more nuanced manner, particularly regarding their internal and external ruptures. A good understanding of these complexities would enable interventions to manoeuvre through the tensions and cater for diverse interests and values of affected communities.

An integrated assessment of spatial planning towards the multi-hazard risk in Surakarta City

The urban development is correlated to urban economic growth. This situation often produces negative impacts on the environment, such as the emergence of disaster risks. Oftentimes, disaster risk existence is not sufficiently considered in spatial planning. Consequently, urban development does not support the efforts of urban disaster risk reduction and adaptation. This paper discusses the synchronization between spatial planning, and multi-hazard risk reduction and adaptation. Surakarta City was selected for the research case. This city has a multi-hazard risk including flood, fire, and traffic accidents. This paper evaluated the synchronization of the multi-hazard risk to the spatial planning of Surakarta City. This research used a deductive approach, and it is documentary research. The main data were based on urban institutional documents. Furthermore, the descriptive analysis technique wasused for exploring the data and information. The research result explains that the procedural evaluation shows the most part of the integration process of the multi-hazard risk assessment that has been conducted, although, on another side, the substantive evaluation indicates that the lack of criteria integration for the multi-hazard risk and the urban spatial planning takes place.

Social Perception of Geo-Hydrological Risk in the Context of Urban Disaster Risk Reduction: A Comparison between Experts and Population in an Area of Southern Italy

The perception of risk is influenced by how the signals about impacts of events are collected, selected, and interpreted. Empirical data suggest that significant differences in the perception of risk occur within the non-expert population itself, as well as between experts and non-expert population. The paper seeks to examine the risk perception of citizens living in an area subject to high hydro-geological risk of Calabria (Southern Italy), and understanding if local policy makers are aware of how local residents perceive risk. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to analyze the perception of experts, stakeholders and citizens on the following research topics: (i) perception of geohydrological risk, involvement in past events and behavior exhibited; (ii) information, communication, preparedness, and feeling of safety and trust. The results of the survey showed the communication gap between experts and people, evidencing the need for local authorities and experts to disseminate the culture of awareness on the risk and to increase the safety level of the citizens by means of participated actions aimed at reducing urban disaster risk.

How Development Affects News Media Coverage of Earthquakes: Implications for Disaster Risk Reduction in Observing Communities

Previous research suggests that lesson-drawing news coverage of disasters can create windows of opportunity for policy learning in the observing communities. This is especially important for cities facing similar vulnerabilities to disaster-affected communities, where they can learn from their events to pursue disaster risk reduction policies to mitigate against those risks at home. However, little is known about the conditions under which newspapers in at-risk communities provide the type of news coverage necessary for policy learning. Using logistic regression to analyze an original dataset produced from a content analysis of five newspapers’ coverage of five earthquakes, we demonstrate that the level of development of the disaster-stricken community systematically influences the nature of news coverage in at-risk communities. These results have important implications for the understanding of urban disaster risk reduction, suggesting that the conditions for bottom-up policy learning are more likely to occur following disasters in wealthier countries.

Green Open Space: Awareness for Health or Sustainability?

Universitas Indonesia in cooperation with American Red Cross and Indonesian Red Cross have been assisting green open space revitalisation program in 7 locations in Bogor Regency (2016-2017). The program was held under The Urban Disaster Risk Reduction Greater Jakarta Project; an initiative program from American Red Cross Indonesia. This project was not only improving the existing green open space quality, but also creating one adapted from public land. The revitalization project figures what happened on daily basis on the existing land, proposing new programming facilities, community-based construction, monitoring and handing over. This paper discovers the meaning of a green space for the community, whether the community aware of its benefit on human health or environmental sustainability. The research question is does the community aware of green open space benefit for human health or environmental sustainability? Or both? The original data from the community was gathered and grouped based on its relevance with environmental quality and public health.

Children in Disaster Risk Reduction in Portugal: Policies, Education, and (Non) Participation

International agencies and scientific research have been calling for the inclusion of children in disaster preparedness and risk reduction, to hear their voices in order to address their specific needs and vulnerabilities and harness their capabilities in terms of building community resilience. This article assesses the roles ascribed to children in policy and education for disaster risk reduction in Portugal. The approach is based on a scoping methodology that encompasses document analysis and interviews with national and local stakeholders and policymakers in the disaster risk reduction field. The research is carried out within the scope of a European funded project, CUIDAR Cultures of Disaster Resilience among Children and Young People. More specifically, the article provides an overview of the discourses on the roles ascribed to children in urban disaster risk reduction (DRR). The authors maintain that although children are often taken as a target group in urban disaster prevention and management, they are seldom considered in terms of active participation in disaster risk reduction programs in the Portuguese context. Nevertheless, our analysis shows that there is a growing awareness of the relevance of active participation by children in order to create successful DRR.

Post-project review in urban disaster risk reduction

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of a post-project review (PPR) method designed to verify the accomplishments of urban disaster risk reduction-neighborhood approach (DRR-NA) projects after at least one year of project closeout. The PPR revisited the essential processes identified during project implementation and analyzed the sustainability of project gains.Design/methodology/approachThe first section focuses on a literature review of the evaluation methods after project implementation, and the second describes the urban risk PPR design, its implementation, and findings.FindingsThe proposed framework for the PPR was clear and uniform and at the same time offered the necessary flexibility to adapt to the different DRR-NA projects and contexts. The PPR methodology sought to determine the conditions of the physical works, social and environmental gains, and progress in institutional arrangements associated with the NA projects. Factors that contribute and impede success in DRR-NA projects were identified.Practical implicationsAllowing at least one year between the completion of the NA projects and the PPR is both convenient and challenging. On the positive side, this approach allows for the verification of project outcomes after an extended period of time. However, there are also challenges, such as the need to seek additional financial resources to carry out the review; generate new contractual mechanisms; and assign human resources to review a project already closed.Originality/valueThe changes introduced into the PPR methodology to obtain a participative and self-conducted process resulted in a truly collective learning experience, becoming an act of accountability and social commitment.

Urban land use and geohazards in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India: the need for geotechnical intervention and geoethical policies in urban disaster resilience programmes in a changing climate

Abstract The capital city, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, India, is exposed to multiple geohazards as it is located both in a region which experiences extreme physical phenomena due to changing climate, and in the tectonically active Eastern Himalaya. The geohazards in Itanagar include landslides, flash floods, soil erosion and earthquakes. Due to rapid and haphazard growth in urban land use, the city’ residents have been increasingly exposed to these geohazards over the past two decades. The high decadal growth rate of just over 111% shown in the 1991–2001 censuses has introduced many challenges with respect to the capital city's development planning, and geoscientists are warning of land suitability and stability in terms of rock types, soil, slope, geomorphology and groundwater conditions in their scientific communications. The present condition of the city has raised issues of immediate concern related to effective hazard management. The vulnerability of existing urban land use to landslides, flash floods and soil erosion is increasing steadily, and Itanagar needs to become a disaster-resilient hill city. Experts agree there is therefore a need for appropriate engineering geology intervention as well as the development of geoethical policies in sustainable development planning of the city, which could be achieved by using a strategic urban plan through community participation and awareness generation under the Itanagar Urban Disaster Risk Reduction (UDRR) programme.

What about Us? Reported Experiences of Disabled People Related to the Christchurch Earthquakes

Internationally there is limited research on the experiences of people with disabilities during and following a major disaster. This research explores the reported experiences of disabled people related to the 2010-2011 Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake series. MethodsQualitative inquiry involving purposive sampling and face to face interviews with 23 disabled people living in Christchurch during the earthquakes. The qualitative research was followed by a pilot quantitative survey involving 25 disabled people living in Christchurch during the earthquakes and 10 people who work in the disability sector. Qualitative interview material was analysed using thematic analysis while quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics. ResultsDisabled people preferred to shelter in place as their homes are organised to suit their specific needs. Our research suggests that urban disaster risk reduction strategies are needed that enhance opportunities for disabled people to maintain autonomy in an emergency situation. Key factors identified by participants that increase earthquake vulnerability among disabled people include a lack of personal disaster preparedness, public information that is not disability accessible and social isolation. Resilience was enhanced through disaster preparedness planning and good support networks. Implications: Individuals, communities and responding agencies could learn from the experiences of disabled people in order to improve preparation and response to disasters for vulnerable groups. Disaster recovery should be seen as an opportunity to reduce risk through avoiding recreating the conditions of vulnerability that may have existed previously.

Social capital and sociological resilience in megacities context

PurposeDuring the last few decades social resilience and social vulnerability have been two crucial sociological concepts for everyone involved in crisis and disaster management. The fundamental purpose in the present analysis is based on the consideration of resilience from a sociological perspective and the notion of social capital, its proper features, dynamics and processes within different groups of people involved in a disaster process.Design/methodology/approachAll these social components could be evaluated as social indicators of vulnerability and resilience according to the sociological approach and its main theories about social capital and resilience, social and methodological implications. The operative context of this theoretical reflection has been constituted by megacities, considered as the “new” social space where, nowadays, major social relations and risk reduction actions take place through a collaborative pattern not based on a top down organizational model.FindingsAttention is focused on the sociological findings as the importance of social cohesion, strengthening social relationships with particular consideration for the crucial role of social capital during all stages of the disaster process: prevention and preparedness, planning, warning communication, physical and psychological impacts, emergency and disaster response, recovery and reconstruction with the specific aim of enhancing social resilience and attempting to diminish social vulnerability.Originality/valueThe originality of this proposal in the field of disaster resilience is its use of the sociological approach and its theoretical characteristics and instruments, such as, for example, the definitions of social capital. The consideration for this topic will be future challenges to improve urban disaster risk reduction according to social relationship and its characteristics of interconnection and multidimensionality.

Disaster risk reduction capacity assessment for precarious settlements in Guatemala City

This study presents findings of an institutional capacity analysis of urban disaster risk reduction for informal settlements in the Guatemala Metropolitan Region. It uses a resource access perspective of vulnerability, actor-network theory, and qualitative data collection. The analysis reveals that there is interest in disaster risk reduction for the informal settlements; however, there is little in the way of direct financial or oversight relationships between informal settlement residents and all other actors. Respondents observed that informal settlements would probably remain inhabited; thus, there is a need for disaster risk reduction within these settlements. Disaster risk reduction capacity for informal settlements exists and can be further leveraged, as long as steps are taken to ensure appropriate access to and control of resources and oversight. Further, the nascent institutional arrangements should be strengthened through increased communication and coordination between actors, a decentralization of oversight and financial relationships, and mediation of identified resource conflicts.

Editorial: Why is community action needed for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation?

When disasters happen, the speed and effectiveness of response depends very heavily on local organizations that represent the needs of those most impacted and most vulnerable. As the paper by Jorgelina Hardoy, Gustavo Pandiella and Luz Stella Velasquez Barrero notes, it is at the local or neighbourhood level that disasters happen, lives and livelihoods are lost, houses and infrastructure damaged or destroyed, and health and education compromised. It is also at the local level that many of the disaster risks can be addressed before disasters occur. Much of the responsibility for disaster risk reduction falls to local governments and much of the death and destruction from disasters shows up the failings of local government. The success of post-disaster actions is also to a large extent determined by pre-disaster planning and awareness and readiness within local government and civil society organizations. In this way, community action and partnerships with local government are central not just to minimizing risk but also in responding to impact and shaping recovery in ways that can strengthen local livelihoods and quality of life. The papers in this issue bring to our attention the importance of community action – for disaster risk reduction, for post-disaster rebuilding and for climate change adaptation. The paper by Diane Archer and Somsook Boonyabancha highlights the energy and creativity of disaster-affected communities as they rebuild their homes and livelihoods far more effectively and far more cheaply than external agencies. The paper by Norberto Carcellar, Jason Christopher Rayos Co and Zarina O Hipolito describes the support programme developed by the Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines for disaster-affected communities and for disaster risk reduction, and the benefits this brings to low-income disaster-affected or atrisk households. The paper by Cassidy Johnson reviews the roles of local civil society groups in Turkey after the 1999 earthquakes. And the paper by Mark Pelling considers the roles of community organizations in urban disaster risk reduction in Haiti, Guyana and the Dominican Republic. Other papers in this issue show the importance of community organizations in developing responses to disaster risk or in post-disaster rebuilding and in trying to get government support to do so. Furthermore, some papers have already been accepted for the April 2012 issue of Environment and Urbanization on the capacities of community organizations to map disaster risk and vulnerability and develop measures to address them. But is this focus on community organization appropriate for urban contexts? And what are the limits? Community organizations cannot design and build the citywide infrastructure that is so important for resilience to storms and heavy rainfall – for instance, storm and surface drains and road and bridge networks that can cope with sudden and much increased volumes of water. The paper by Mark Pelling describes how working with community organizations on risk mapping and awareness raising can lead to small works and provide a focus for group activities (e.g. building small bridges across drainage canals,

Urban governance and disaster risk reduction in the Caribbean: the experiences of Oxfam GB

The reality of supporting community-based urban disaster risk reduction is daunting. This paper provides a cross-cultural analysis of the experiences of Oxfam GB in supporting urban community-based disaster risk reduction in Haiti, Guyana and the Dominican Republic. The paper focuses on the efforts of Oxfam GB and its local partners to overcome the determining influence of local governance on who benefits from interventions, and the longevity of positive outcomes. The most successful projects built on strong pre-existing partnerships with buy-in from local and municipal government, promoted longevity in physical and social infrastructure through dual use investments that had an everyday as well as a disaster risk reduction purpose, and integrated technological and lay focus exercises to generate local participation as well as provide baselines for project planning. Overall, however, disaster risk reduction was constrained by a lack of vision and funding constraints, which prevented root causes in the wider urban and regional environment or political economy to be tackled.

Toward Safer, More Sustainable California Communities

The CRP Department has been a leader in research and education in the areas of urban disaster risk reduction, prevention, mitigation, and post-recovery. The international symposium held in 2005 and its proceedings published by FOCUS are examples of that. Lecturer Ken Topping writes about the revision of the California State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, a major applied research project undertaken by the CRP Department. Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/focus This Faculty and Student Work is brought to you for free and open access by the City and Regional Planning at DigitalCommons@CalPoly. It has been accepted for inclusion in Focus by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@CalPoly. For more information, please contact mwyngard@calpoly.edu. Recommended Citation Topping, Kenneth (2007) Toward Safer, More Sustainable California Communities, Focus: Vol. 4: Iss. 1, Article 20. DOI: 10.15368/focus.2007v4n1.15 Available at: http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/focus/vol4/iss1/20 ToWarD safer, more susTainable California CommuniTies

Cal Poly's Symposium on Urban Disaster Risk Reduction and Regeneration Planning: An Overview

From November 3 to 5, 2005 the City and Regional Planning and the College of Architecture and Environmental Design promoted the International Symposium on Urban Disaster Risk Reduction and Regeneration Planning: Integrating Practice, Policy and Theory. Christina Batteate presents an overview of these three intense days when more than thirty leading professionals from the US and abroad presented their work and their views, and participants were able to engage in important discussions. FOCUS has also published a special issue with the complete proceedings of the symposium. Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/focus This Special is brought to you for free and open access by the City and Regional Planning at DigitalCommons@CalPoly. It has been accepted for inclusion in Focus by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@CalPoly. For more information, please contact mwyngard@calpoly.edu. Recommended Citation Batteate, Christina (2006) Cal Poly's Symposium on Urban Disaster Risk Reduction and Regeneration Planning: An Overview, Focus: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 7. DOI: 10.15368/focus.2006v3n1.1 Available at: http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/focus/vol3/iss1/7