Conceptual aspects of vulnerability mapping as main phase of a risk mapping process

Denkova, Jadranka and Ananiev, Jovan and Vejseli, Urim (2017) Conceptual aspects of vulnerability mapping as main phase of a risk mapping process. In: International scientific conference “Contemporary concepts of crisis management”, Dec 2016, Ohrid, Macedonia.

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Abstract

A vulnerability map gives the precise location of sites where people, the natural environment or property are at risk due to a potentially catastrophic event that could result in death, injury, pollution or other destruction. Such maps are made in conjunction with information about different types of hazards. This maps are most often created with the assistance of computer technology called geographic information systems (GIS) and digital land survey equipment designed for use in the field. However, vulnerability maps can also be created manually using background maps such as satellite imagery, property boundaries, road maps, or topographic maps. In such cases the national or municipality’s planning office should be involved in order to take advantage of the base maps that have already been made for other purposes. The vulnerability maps will allow them to decide on mitigating measures to prevent or reduce loss of life, injury and environmental consequences before a disaster occurs. An interdisciplinary vulnerability mapping group considers where mitigating measures should be taken before, for example, a flood occurs. Those preparing the maps can overlap flood inundation and slope stability zones with property maps in order to determine which properties and buildings are at risk.
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Vulnerability maps can be of use in all phases of `crisis management: Prevention, mitigation, preparedness, operations, relief, recovery and lessons-learned. In the prevention stage planners can use vulnerability maps to avoid high hazard zones when developing areas for housing, commercial or industrial use. Technical experts can be alerted about places where the infrastructure can be affected in case of a disaster. Fire departments can plan for rescues before a potentially dangerous event is at hand. During an exercise where a predetermined scenario takes place, the rescue crews may use the map to determine where to respond first to save human lives, the environment or property. They can also be used to evacuation routes to test the effectiveness of these routes for saving large numbers of residents and tourists and moving special groups such as senior citizens, children and those with handicaps. The operations officer can be updated about the disaster situation and the need for and the location of sensitive areas. The vulnerability map can also include evacuation routes to test their effectiveness for saving lives. Keywords: vulnerability, mapping, risk, methodology, crisis.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects: Humanities > Other humanities
Divisions: Faculty of Law
Depositing User: Jadranka Denkova
Date Deposited: 26 Jan 2018 13:24
Last Modified: 26 Jan 2018 13:24
URI: https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/19123

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