Standardization of vulnerability maps

Groundwater vulnerability assessment schemes are used for the estimation of potential groundwater contamination at different scales and on different administrative levels. However, the term vulnerability is not standardized and the available methods are not able to give a unique assessment of vulnerability creating thus uncertainty in the interpretation and in further application concerning decision creation processes. To judge the information of vulnerability maps certainly and to value the general trends of vulnerability assessment of different methods, four different vulnerability methods of the parametric system group have been applied on a karst area in southwestern Germany to perform a comparative assessment and correlation of these vulnerability assessment methods, namely DRASTIC, PI, EPIK, and GLA. It is shown that by means of simple statistical considerations the first highly different vulnerability maps could be made more coherent after reclassification. The reclassified vulnerability assessments show a more consistent vulnerability distribution pattern and provide the possibility of area-wide validation of the maps as the chosen vulnerability classification is theoretically connected to the mean transit time of percolation water and is largely independent of the applied vulnerability assessment method.     

Methodology for the assessment and classification of regional vulnerability to natural hazards in China: the application of a DEA model

This paper presents a new method for quantifying vulnerability to natural hazards in China. As an important area of vulnerability research, quantitative assessment of vulnerability has raised much focus in academia. Presently, scholars have proposed a variety of methods for quantitative assessment, which usually create an index of overall vulnerability from a suite of indicators, based on the understanding of the cause or mechanism of vulnerability. However, due to the complex nature of vulnerability, this approach caused some arguments on the indicator selection and the weight set for subindices. A data envelopment analysis?Cbased model for the assessment of the regional vulnerability to natural disasters is presented here to improve upon the traditional methods, and a new approach for the classification of vulnerability is proposed. The vulnerability to natural hazards in China??s mainland is illustrated as a case study. The result shows that the overall level of vulnerability to natural hazards in mainland China is high. The geographic pattern shows that vulnerability is highest in western China, followed by diminishing vulnerability in central China, and lowest vulnerability levels in eastern China. There is a negative correlation between the level of vulnerability and the level of regional economic development.     

Applicability of vulnerability maps

A number of aspects related to vulnerability maps are discussed: the vulnerability concept, mapping purposes, possible users, and applicability of vulnerability maps. Problems associated with general-type vulnerability mapping, including large-scale maps, universal pollutant, and universal pollution scenario are also discussed. An alternative approach to vulnerability assessment—specific vulnerability mapping for limited areas, specific pollutant, and predefined pollution scenario—is suggested. A simplification of the vulnerability concept is proposed in order to make vulnerability maps more objective and by this means more comparable. An extension of the vulnerability concept to the rest of the hydrogeologicar cycle (lakes, rivers, and the sea) is proposed. Some recommendations regarding future activities are given.     

泥石流作用下建筑物易损性评价方法分析与评价

建筑物易损度评价作为泥石流易损度评价的重要组成部分,其研究是实现城镇及居民点泥石流风险定量化和风险管理的必要环节。综述近30年来,泥石流作用下建筑物易损度研究的发展过程,并指出以统计分析方法建立的建筑物易损度曲线普适性差且力学机理不明等问题,提出数值计算和模型实验的手段获取建筑物结构易损度的机理模型。由于建筑物易损度研究问题本身的复杂性,统计分析方法仍将作为建筑物易损度研究的重要手段,力学机理明晰的研究方法则将成为今后研究的难点和热点。此外,地震、滚石、雪崩等类似灾种的易损度研究方法和成果可被借鉴到泥石流领域。针对灾害中因结构破坏引发人员伤亡的情况,建议采用时间概率和基于条件概率的事件树方法计算建筑物内人员易损度。最终形成综合结构和人员易损度研究成果的建筑物易损度评价方法。     

基于压力?状态?响应模型框架的城市地震综合易损性评价

为了科学评价城市地震灾害状况,降低城市易损性,基于压力-状态-响应模型框架,构建城市地震综合易损性评价指标体系,其中压力类、状态类、响应类指标分别为7、13、8项。应用熵权法确定了各评价指标的权重,提出基于云模型的城市综合易损性评价模型,并运用雷达图分析法实现城市内各个区综合易损性的相对高低。应用上述方法,对兰州市中心城区进行了震害综合易损性评价,结果表明:兰州市综合易损性等级偏向Ⅲ级,易损性中等,其中红古、安宁区的易损性程度较高,城关、七里河易损性程度较低;经济因素对各区域的易损性影响较大,通过对易损区域加强管理建设,提高城市的防震减灾能力。     

Vulnerability assessments and their planning implications: a case study of the Hutt Valley, New Zealand

An understanding of vulnerability is not only crucial for the survival of the exposed communities to extreme events, but also for their adaptation to climate change. Vulnerability affects community participation in hazard mitigation, influences emergency response and governs adaptive capacity for the changing environmental and hazards characteristics. However, despite increased awareness, assessments and understanding of the processes that produce vulnerability, disaster risks prevail. This raises questions on the effectiveness of vulnerability assessments and their applications for hazard mitigation and adaptation. The literature includes a range of vulnerability assessment methods, wherein frequently the selection of any particular method is governed by the research objectives. On the other hand, hazard mitigation plans and policies even though mention vulnerability, their implementation pays less attention to the variations in its nature and underlying causes. This paper explores possible reasons for such gaps by exploring a case study of the Hutt Valley, New Zealand. It brings out the limitations of different vulnerability assessment methods in representing the local vulnerability and challenges they bring in planning for the vulnerability reduction. It argues that vulnerability assessment based on any particular method, such as deprivation index, principle component analysis, composite vulnerability index with or without weight, may not reveal the actual vulnerability of a place, and therefore, a comprehensive vulnerability assessment is needed.     

Assessment of provincial social vulnerability to natural disasters in China

Assessment of social vulnerability has been recognized as a critical step to understand natural hazard risks and to enhance effective response capabilities. Although significant achievements have been made in social vulnerability researches, little is know about the comprehensive profile of regional social vulnerability in China. In this study, the social vulnerability to natural hazards was firstly divided into socioeconomic and built environmental vulnerability. Then, using factor analysis, we identified the dominant factors that influence the provincial social vulnerability in China to natural hazards based on the socioeconomic and built environmental variables in 2000 and 2010 and explored the spatial patterns of social vulnerability. The results indicated that the provincial social vulnerability in China showed significant regional differences. The social vulnerability in the southeastern and eastern regions of China was greater than its northern and central parts over the past decade. Economic status, rural (proportion of agricultural population and percentage of workers employed in primary industries), urbanization, and age structure (children) were the dominant driving forces of variations in provincial socioeconomic vulnerability in two studied years, while lifelines and housing age could explain most of changes in built environmental vulnerability in 2000 and 2010. There were no statistically significant correlations between social vulnerability and disaster losses (p > 0.05), indicating the impact of disasters was also related to the intensity of hazards and exposure. Disaster relief funds allocated to each province of China depended more on its disaster severity than the regional integrated social vulnerability over the past decade. These findings would provide a scientific base for the policy making and implementation of disaster prevention and mitigation in China.     

Concept,Analytical Framework and Assessment Method of Livelihood Vulnerability

Research on the internal factors and mechanism of livelihood vulnerability, which has become one of the hot spots in sustainable scientific field, can improve the level of livelihood security. This paper reviewed the livelihood vulnerability literature from the perspective of concept, analysis framework, assessment methods. Three conclusions were achieved. Firstly, the scholars' understanding of the concept of livelihood vulnerability has reached consensus. Secondly, the existing evaluation method is lack of multiple perspectives, and the selection of the indicator system is not comprehensive enough. Thirdly, the research on the dynamic mechanism and regulation of livelihood vulnerability and the framework of adaptability will still be further needed. Additionally, some suggestions were given in this paper such as establishing a unified concept system and analysis framework for livelihood vulnerability, improving the evaluation index system and deepening the dynamic mechanism and regulation study of livelihood vulnerability in the study of livelihood vulnerability. In the future, we should gradually unify the livelihood vulnerability analysis framework, enhance the study of driving and regulating mechanisms and evaluation methods of the livelihood vulnerability, promote the research of livelihood vulnerability in the context of national policies and new technologies, and provide a scientific basis for the formulation of related policies.     

Experimental vulnerability curves for the residential buildings of Iran

Iran is one of the most seismically active countries of the world located on the Alpine-Himalayan earthquake belt. More than 180,000 people were killed due to earthquakes in Iran during the last five decades. Considering the fact that most Iranians live in masonry and non-engineered houses, having a comprehensive program for decreasing the vulnerability of society holds considerable importance. For this reason, loss estimation should be done before an earthquake strikes to prepare proper information for designing and selection of emergency plans and the retrofitting strategies prior to occurrence of earthquake. The loss estimation process consists of two principal steps of hazard analysis and vulnerability assessment. After identifying the earthquake hazard, the first step is to evaluate the vulnerability of residential buildings and lifelines and also the social and economic impacts of the earthquake scenarios. Among these, residential buildings have specific importance, because their destruction will disturb the daily life and result in casualties. Consequently, the vulnerability assessment of the buildings in Iran is important to identify the weak points in the built environment structure. The aim of this research is to prepare vulnerability curves for the residential buildings of Iran to provide a proper base for estimating probable damage features by future earthquakes. The estimation may contribute fundamentally for better seismic performance of Iranian societies. After a brief review of the vulnerability assessment methods in Iran and other countries, through the use of the European Macroseismic method, a model for evaluating the vulnerability of the Iranian buildings is proposed. This method allows the vulnerability assessment for numerous sets of buildings by defining the vulnerability curves for each building type based on the damage observations of previous earthquakes. For defining the vulnerability curves, a building typology classification is presented in this article, which is representative of Iranian building characteristics. The hazard is described in terms of the macroseismic intensity and the EMS-98 damage grades have been considered for classifying the physical damage to the buildings. The calculated vulnerability indexes and vulnerability curves show that for engineered houses there is not any notable difference between the vulnerability of Iranian and Risk-UE building types. For the non-engineered houses, the vulnerability index of brick and steel structures is less than the corresponding values of the other unreinforced masonry buildings of Iran. The vulnerability index of unreinforced and masonry buildings of Iran are larger than the values of the similar types in Risk-UE and so the Iranian buildings are more vulnerable in this regard.     

An assessment of multidimensional flood vulnerability at the provincial scale in China based on the DEA method

China suffers frequent and severe floods. A lot of studies have been done in the field of flood disaster, including flood vulnerability assessment. This paper develops assessment models of multidimensional flood vulnerability based on the data envelopment analysis method and identifies multidimensional flood vulnerability??population, death, agriculture and economy??at the provincial scale in China using flood damage data and socioeconomic statistical data from 2001 to 2010. Based on the characteristics of multidimensional flood vulnerability of each province, some suggestions for flood prevention and mitigation are suggested. The assessment models of multidimensional flood vulnerability are simple and can be used for vulnerability analysis of natural disaster at regional or national levels. The assessment of multidimensional flood vulnerability can provide multifaceted information that contributes to a deeper understanding of the flood vulnerability and provides a scientific base for the policy making and implementation of flood prevention and mitigation designs.     

A multi-criteria evaluation model of earthquake vulnerability in Victoria,British Columbia

Researchers have recently examined the geographic variability of the vulnerability of populations to earthquakes. These studies focus mainly on the complex modelling of geophysical processes or identification of socio-economically disadvantaged populations. However, no studies to date have integrated different components of vulnerability with metrics of travel distance to hospitals and trauma centres (systemic vulnerability). We argue that this previously unaccounted component is an important conceptual and practical aspect of earthquake vulnerability. Accordingly, this paper presents a multi-criteria model for combining physical, social, and systemic components, moving towards a more comprehensive assessment of vulnerability. An analytic hierarchy process is used to produce a place-specific index of social vulnerability, which we combine with soil liquefaction and amplification index and a road network model for access to hospitals and trauma services. Using a geographic information system, we implemented this model for the Greater Victoria region (483 km², 2011 population: 345,000) in British Columbia, Canada. Clustering of total vulnerability was found in outlying areas, highlighting the importance of access to trauma centres. We conclude by identifying challenges in measuring earthquake vulnerability and advocate integration of systemic vulnerability components in natural hazards research.     

Urban flood vulnerability assessments: the case of Dire Dawa city,Ethiopia

Dire Dawa city is identified as one of the most flood-affected cities in Ethiopia. Classifying village-level flood vulnerability using flood indicators is a new approach to Dire Dawa city. Analysis of different flood vulnerability factors underpins sustainable flood risk management and the application of Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) approach is the hub of this study. Relevant data were collected from 110 households sampled from purposely selected 10 villages found in Dire Dawa city. The flood vulnerability index was used to compare, classify and rank villages in terms of their flood vulnerability levels. For this purpose, 24 sets of indicators which are strongly affecting the levels of flood vulnerability were assessed from social, economic and physical perspectives. The FVI of each village was computed with unequal method of weighting indicators. The findings of the study revealed that Dire Dawa city villages were experiencing varying levels of flood vulnerability. Accordingly, villages 05, 06, 07 and 09 were identified with high flood vulnerability level while villages 03, 04 and 08 and villages 01, 02 and extension village were identified with medium and low level of vulnerability, respectively. Interestingly, the findings of the study confirmed that social factors contributed much for flood vulnerability in Dire Dawa city. Hence, future urban flood risk planning and management endeavors in the city of Dire Dawa must be underpinned by proper utilization of the flood vulnerability map developed addressing social vulnerability component through both structural and non-structural urban flood risk management measures.

     

三峡库区地质灾害易损性模糊综合评价

地质灾害是灾害危险性对承灾体易损性综合作用的结果,减灾应从减少地质灾害的发生频率和降低其易损性入手,限于目前的科学水平,人们难以改变地质灾害的发生过程,那么降低地质灾害易损性就成为减灾的重要措施,因此进行灾害易损性评价就显得尤为重要。本文以三峡库区为研究区,选取人口密度、国内生产总值密度等指标,运用模糊综合评判对其进行了定量评估。由于各指标因子在地质灾害易损性中的作用具有模糊性,因此运用模糊模型进行评价具有一定的意义。将库区地质灾害易损性程度划分为4个等级,研究结果表明,三峡库区地质灾害易损性程度总体较高。易损度较高的地区应强化减灾意识、调整人口结构以及加大防灾投入,以降低本地区的地质灾害易损性。     

基于COP方法的徐州城市规划区内岩溶水脆弱性评价

基于欧洲模式中针对岩溶含水层脆弱性的评价方法—COP法,根据区内实际水文地质条件,建立徐州城市规划区岩溶水脆弱性评价模型。评价结果表明,脆弱性级别高区、脆弱性级别较高区占徐州城市规划区总面积的23.12%、13.73%;脆弱性级别中等区占总面积的7.85%;脆弱性级别较低区和低区分别占总面积的11.57%、43.73%。总体来看,区内岩溶含水层脆弱性整体较低,不容易被污染;脆弱性高区主要分布在基岩裸露区及其周围地区。     

湖南省农业生态水资源库脆弱性评价

以湖南农业生态水资源库为研究对象,分析了其脆弱性成因和主要表现.从脆弱性成因角度构建了包含10个具体指标的湖南生态水资源库脆弱性评价指标体系,运用模糊物元评价模型对85个县级评价单元的农业生态水资源库脆弱度进行综合评判.结果表明:全省农业生态水资源库脆弱性等级以中等脆弱为主,其中,微脆弱等级11个,占总评价单元的12.9%;中等脆弱等级74个,占总评价单元的87.1%.脆弱度空间分布存在"西部大于东部,南部大于北部"的总体分布态势.其中,以湘西北、湘西南和湘南所构成的外部环形地带和以长沙、衡邵盆地为中心的中东部地带为全省两个比较明显的高脆弱区(带).     

气候变化脆弱性及其国际研究进展

脆弱性一词广泛应用于不同的学科群体,由于各自学科研究传统和知识背景的差异,对脆弱性的理解和界定具有很大的差异性.依据近年来国外在该领域的主要研究成果,总结和综述了气候变化脆弱性概念的基本要素、脆弱性因素的分类特征;梳理了国际研究在灾害与权利的关系、社会和生态的综合集成方面的主流和进展;分析了脆弱性研究在度量、实证和治理应用等方面的主要挑战和方向.     

区域泥石流易损性评价

以联合国公布的易损性定义为基础,论述了影响区域易损性的代表性因子及其量化方法,探讨了各因子与易损性的相互关系,论证了区域泥石流易损性评价的建模过程及其数学表达.区域泥石流易损性反映泥石流作用下垫面的社会、经济和环境属性,与固定资产投资、国内生产总值和土地资源价值以及人口密度和人口质量(年龄大小、教育水平、富裕程度)有关.区域泥石流易损性定量表达为财产指标赋值和人口指标赋值平均值的平方根.以四川凉山州为研究实例,对此评价方法进行了应用.     

A comparative analysis of several vulnerability concepts

A comparative analysis of six vulnerability models aims to identify differences and similarities between several approaches towards understanding vulnerability. The analysis yields a set of characteristics for explaining the condition of vulnerability (multiple contexts, multiple dimensions, temporal variability, multiple scales and scale-interdependency). In addition, ‘adaptation’ and ‘adaptive capacity’ are identified as key elements of vulnerability. The results of the analysis are put into a wider context not only of vulnerability but also of resilience and risk research. It is demonstrated that ‘adaptation’ and ‘adaptive capacity’ serve as hinges not only for conceptualising vulnerability but between ‘vulnerability’ and ‘resilience’ alike. Based on the results of the comparative analysis, a model of vulnerability focussing on the household and community scale is developed, which displays the key findings of this work.     

自然灾害脆弱性曲线研究进展

在全球变化与全球化背景下自然灾害风险逐年增大,灾害评估就成为风险防范的重要基础。灾害评估包括灾情估算与风险评估2个方面,而脆弱性分析是把灾害与风险研究紧密联系起来的重要桥梁。脆弱性曲线作为定量精确评估承灾体脆弱性的方法,近年来在多领域被广泛运用,成为灾情估算、风险定量分析以及风险地图编制的关键环节。从致灾因子角度综述脆弱性曲线的研究进展,重点阐述基于灾情数据、已有曲线、调查和模型的脆弱性曲线构建。研究表明脆弱性曲线构建由单曲线向多曲线库、单一参数向综合参数、单一方法向多领域综合应用发展,具有综合化和精细化的趋势。进一步开展多领域、多方法综合脆弱性曲线研究,对灾损快速评估及风险评价,防灾减灾具有重要意义。