L3: Disaster risk paradigms Flashcards
What is a paradigm?
a world view underlying the theories and methodology of a particular scientific subject
What paradigm existed pre-1950?
Engineering
What is the engineering paradigm?
Predict hazard frequency-magnitude;
Build protective structures;
Understand mechanics of infrastructure under hazard loading;
Typically top-down technical and engineered solutions informed by the science of hazard assesment
What paradigm existed from 1950s-70s
Behavioural
What is the behavioural paradigm?
Recognise role of human behaviour in creating disasters. Poor decisions about how we relate to the environment caused by mis-perceptions;
Need to combine technical and structural solutions with non-structural approaches;
Top down approaches - strengthening institutional capacities; authority of government
What paradigm existed 1980s and 90s
Development
What is the development paradigm?
Why do more occur in LEDCs?
Disasters largely result of clash between natural processes and long-standing socio-economic processes that create human vulnerability;
Disasters primarily caused by human exploitation - on-going pressures cause most vulnerable people to live in unsafe places
What is the PAR model?
Pressure and Release model
-traces progression of vulnerability from root causes to dynamic pressures to unsafe conditions
What are 4 DRR challenges?
HUMANITARIAN - finite resources and abilities of governments and humanitarian actors to effectively respond to disasters and assist recovery
URBAN - rapid growth on development and infrastructure leading to increased vulnerability
COMPLEXITY - dynamic nature of urban environments and implications of cascading failures
UNCERTAINTY - greater exposure to weather related hazards arising form climate change
What is the current paradigm?
Complex
What is the complex paradigm?
brings together elements of engineering, behavioural and development paradigms;
recognises that humans are not just victims of hazards but contribute to the disaster process;
calls on physical and social scientists to work together
Example of structural vulnerability assessment (landslides)
vulnerability of structures usually expressed on scale of 0-1 (no damge - total destruction). can be multiplied by value of structure to get landslide cost.
Difficulties: wide variety of landslide types, lack of unified hazard intensity scale, lack of historical damage data, vulnerability of buildings often given as 1
What are the 3 major factors that determine landslide damage to buildings>
Structural type, state of maintenance, building height
