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1 – 10 of 259This article examines the economic impact of a major California earthquake, by focusing on the catastrophic damage to residential real estate. It asserts that the damage, although…
Abstract
This article examines the economic impact of a major California earthquake, by focusing on the catastrophic damage to residential real estate. It asserts that the damage, although substantial, would be small relative to the U.S. GNP. The author also asserts that the risk can be optimally allocated through reasonably priced insurance contracts and well‐functioning insurance derivative markets.
Low Sui Pheng, Benny Raphael and Wong Kwan Kit
Tsunamis are a rare but devastating form of natural disaster that has been documented since early civilization. Throughout history, many major tsunamis have impacted on the…
Abstract
Purpose
Tsunamis are a rare but devastating form of natural disaster that has been documented since early civilization. Throughout history, many major tsunamis have impacted on the world's coastlines, causing heavy loss of lives and damage to properties. While the Sumatran tsunami in December 2004 demonstrated the sheer scale of destruction, there remains little understanding of the implications such obliteration have for disaster planning and management in the construction industry. The purpose of this paper is to raise the awareness of these implications and address some of the pertinent issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The threat from tsunamis for an island state like Singapore cannot be ignored. A general study of tsunami dynamics is carried out and applied to model the worst scenario if tsunamis were to hit Singapore. Unique problems relating to such a scenario are subsequently highlighted to extrapolate an understanding of how the construction industry should now react even before the disaster strikes.
Findings
There appear to be some potential danger and immense uncertainties to the immediate coastline of Singapore in the event of a tsunami. Faced with these uncertainties, the local construction industry needs to recognise such challenges and develop appropriate policies and strategies way ahead to account for disaster planning and management.
Practical implications
While tsunami warning systems have been put in place, tsunamis cannot be stopped. The construction industry has a significant role to play in minimising destruction through appropriate building codes, materials, designs, enforcement and preventive maintenance of infrastructure.
Originality/value
The paper raises the issues of disaster planning and management caused by tsunamis and prompts the construction industry into taking appropriate and timely action to ward off what can be an extremely threatening event to both lives and properties.
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The purpose of this paper is to present an integrative review of the literature to understand the underlying risks of tectonic plate movements, earthquakes and possible earth…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an integrative review of the literature to understand the underlying risks of tectonic plate movements, earthquakes and possible earth tremors on Bangladesh as a country filled with waterways.
Design/methodology/approach
This study presents a review of seismic activities to present an overview of the active tectonic architecture of the region and its seismic potential with past consequence in Bangladesh region and its immediate surroundings. For the purpose of this review, peer-reviewed journals and electronic databases are the main sources for identifying studies, along with conference proceedings from the similar events and networks.
Findings
Review reveals that Bangladesh sits on three tectonic plates atop the world’s largest river delta and has blind faults, shallow faults and high amplified liquefiable zones. It has experienced few devastating earthquakes but most of the records are not documented and also a lack of proper seismic equipment could not record all the events. Also Bangladesh is ill prepared to tackle the aftermath of any strong earthquake and if an earthquake with 7 Mw or greater magnitude occurred, it would leave Bangladesh blighted by a catastrophic disaster with significant destruction of infrastructure, fire outbreaks resulting from breakdown of gas piping systems, fire from collapsed electrical lines and disruption of water connections both in urban and rural centres with greater impact on industrial cities that may not have adhered to standard building codes.
Originality/value
This paper outlined the necessity of an earthquake hazard catalogue, also preparation in sense of seismic risk mitigation and influence of decision-makers, policy institutes and professionals in ensuring infrastructure development and the building code provides for a safe environment and resilient buildings that can reduce or eliminate the risks.
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The purpose of this paper is to: give a brief history of the development of complexity science for people unfamiliar with the details of complexity science; describe the different…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to: give a brief history of the development of complexity science for people unfamiliar with the details of complexity science; describe the different types of complexity; discuss examples of the types of complexity, and introduce some ideas about how complexity could be introduced into education.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper summarizes other work in the field of complexity science, and organizes the results in a new way with the intent of making a difficult subject easier for the reader to understand.
Findings
Two different types of complexity are described – organized and unorganized. The focus of the paper is on organized complexity of which three categories are described – complicated, chaotic and critical. Examples, descriptions and characteristics of each category are given.
Practical implications
Suggestions are given as to how this transformational science could be integrated into education.
Originality/value
The paper summarizes other work in the field of complexity science, and organizes the results in a new way with the intent of making a difficult subject easier for the reader to understand.
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Habibeh Valizadeh Alvan and Husaini b. Omar
The matter of predicting disasters has always been one of the hottest and most challenging tasks in geology. Earthquakes are among the most destructive ones among all the natural…
Abstract
Purpose
The matter of predicting disasters has always been one of the hottest and most challenging tasks in geology. Earthquakes are among the most destructive ones among all the natural hazards. Occurring often without any warning, they are the most feared and unpredictable natural phenomena. In recent years with the emergence of new remote sensing instruments and techniques, geologists interested themselves to define accurate and reliable procedures to foresee disasters using this new technology. This paper aims to examine some of the data that have been used so far in earthquake prediction as well as cheap, relevant remotely sensing and geographic information systems methods to acquire and manipulate data.
Design/methodology/approach
Earthquakes are not the same in terms of origins, places (depth) and effects. So after having a brief look at the earthquakes, this paper examines the data that can be used for predicting earthquakes and reviews some of the remote sensing methods used to predict tectonic earthquakes. According to the types of measurements, remote sensing methods can be categorized in three main types; crust displacement, thermal and electromagnetic detecting techniques. Regarding the area's geological characteristics, satellites with optical and/or synthetic aperture radar sensors applications in prediction of large‐scale natural disasters will be discussed.
Findings
Presentation of the definitions and characteristics of earthquakes, categorized representation of the types of data used in this field as well as the types and names of the ground, aerial‐ and space‐borne data providers are the most important products of this review paper.
Originality/value
This method, if fully and systematically conducted, can be the cornerstone of an earth‐predicting system.
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D.R. Davies, J.H. Davies, O. Hassan, K. Morgan and P. Nithiarasu
The purpose of this paper is to present an adaptive finite element procedure that improves the quality of convection dominated mid‐ocean ridge (MOR) and subduction zone (SZ…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an adaptive finite element procedure that improves the quality of convection dominated mid‐ocean ridge (MOR) and subduction zone (SZ) simulations in geodynamics.
Design/methodology/approach
The method adapts the mesh automatically around regions of high‐solution gradient, yielding enhanced resolution of the associated flow features. The approach utilizes an automatic, unstructured mesh generator and a finite element flow solver. Mesh adaptation is accomplished through mesh regeneration, employing information provided by an interpolation‐based local error indicator, obtained from the computed solution on an existing mesh.
Findings
The proposed methodology works remarkably well at improving solution accuracy for both MOR and SZ simulations. Furthermore, the method is computationally highly efficient.
Originality/value
To date, successful goal‐orientated/error‐guided grid adaptation techniques have, to the knowledge, not been utilized within the field of geodynamics. This paper presents the first true geodynamical application of such methods.
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The purpose of this paper is to present an assessment of the potential tsunamigenic seismic hazard to Sri Lanka from all active subduction zones in the Indian Ocean Basin.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an assessment of the potential tsunamigenic seismic hazard to Sri Lanka from all active subduction zones in the Indian Ocean Basin.
Design/methodology/approach
The assessment was based on previous studies as well as past seismicity of the subducion zones concerned.
Findings
Accordingly, four seismic zones capable of generating teletsunamis that could reach Sri Lanka have been identified, namely, Northern Andaman‐Myanmar, Northern Sumatra‐Andaman and Southern Sumatra in the Sunda trench and Makran in the Northern Arabian Sea. Moreover, plausible worst‐case earthquake scenarios and respective fault parameters for each of these seismic zones have been recommended.
Research limitations/implications
However, other potential tsunami sources such as seismic activity in the near‐field, submarine landslides and volcanic eruptions have not been considered.
Practical implications
Numerical simulations of tsunami propagation have been carried out for each of the four scenarios in order to assess the potential impact along the coastline of Sri Lanka. Such information relating to the spatial distribution of the likely tsunami amplitudes and arrival times for Sri Lanka would help authorities responsible for evacuation to make a better judgment as to the level of threat in different areas along the coastline, and act accordingly, if a large earthquake were to occur in any of the subduction zones in the Indian Ocean.
Originality/value
In the absence of comprehensive probabilistic assessments of the tsunami hazard to Sri Lanka, this paper's recommendations would provide the necessary framework for the development of deterministic tsunami hazard maps for the shoreline of Sri Lanka.
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This review aims to focus on the role of evidence in informing policy and practice in health and social care integration.
Abstract
Purpose
This review aims to focus on the role of evidence in informing policy and practice in health and social care integration.
Design/methodology/approach
Following discussion of the importance of defining the terms that are being used, the review addresses UK policy and practice developments in respect of integrated health and social care over the last two decades. It explores the extent to which these accord with the available evidence on effective strategies.
Findings
The review demonstrates that the focus in delivering integrated care should be on the local systems and cultures that can deliver positive outcomes for individuals. Structural change will not guarantee integrated care and diverts from the detail of local implementation that needs to be achieved. Current developments in both Scotland and England have some promise of delivering enduring progress.
Originality/value
The review provides a synthesis of key bodies of evidence and allows comparison between different polities within the UK.
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Saville Kushner and Nigel Norris
In our public institutions it sometimes feels as though the tectonic plates of social and political contracts are shifting. Familiar coordinates are displaced or left stranded as…
Abstract
In our public institutions it sometimes feels as though the tectonic plates of social and political contracts are shifting. Familiar coordinates are displaced or left stranded as we survey new territorial configurations and have to work out again how to find our way in public administration. The economic revolution embraced by neo-liberals and conservatives found its counterpart in a governance revolution in the very institutions that have always been designed to protect us from sharp historical and political lurches one way or another. Our public institutions – mostly coinciding with what we can call our professional institutions – which were once the filters of social and political change have become co-opted into social reform and are now all-too-frequently the conduits of that political change.