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Book part
Publication date: 12 July 2021

Daniel Yu Chuan Liew and Faizah Che Ros

Flood vulnerability is a complex concept involving the interactions between environment, social and economic dimensions. Indicator‐based vulnerability assessment is widely used in…

Abstract

Flood vulnerability is a complex concept involving the interactions between environment, social and economic dimensions. Indicator‐based vulnerability assessment is widely used in vulnerability studies to summarise complexity and multidimensionality issues to gauge the level of vulnerability. A set of 21 environmental and socio‐economic indicators is used to quantitatively assess the three factors of vulnerability, namely exposure, susceptibility and resilience to flood at the subnational level. The construction of the vulnerability index involved the selection of indicators, their normalisation, weightage and aggregation to a final index. In addition to the Flood Vulnerability Index, three sub‐indices namely Exposure Index, Susceptibility Index and Resilience Index were generated. Based on composite indicator approach, the vulnerability of the states in Malaysia was categorised from very low to very high. The source of vulnerability is due not only to the environmental exposure to flood hazard but also contributed by the internal status of the socio‐economic factors within the vulnerable systems.

Article
Publication date: 4 September 2007

Roger L. Kemp

The purpose of this paper is to set forth a rigorous methodology for building owners and managers to conduct a vulnerability assessment of their facilities. Such a process would…

843

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set forth a rigorous methodology for building owners and managers to conduct a vulnerability assessment of their facilities. Such a process would facilitate the use of remediation measures to limit the loss of life and property during a disaster, whether natural or man‐made.

Design/methodology/approach

The author sets forth nine criteria to conduct a vulnerability assessment, along with a six‐point rating system. The criteria selected are: the level of visibility, the criticality of the site to the jurisdiction in which it is located, the impact of the site outside of the jurisdiction in which it is located, access to the site, size hazards, building height, type of construction, site population capacity, and the potential for collateral mass casualties. This evaluative process leads to five site vulnerability ratings, ranked as follows: negligible, low, medium, high, and critical.

Findings

Property owners and building managers can use this process to assess the vulnerability of their facilities and, based on this process and the resulting vulnerability rating, initiate common‐sense remediation measures to limit the loss of life and property, should a disaster occur.

Research limitations/implications

The field of vulnerability assessment is a new discipline within the evolving subject of homeland security. Other methodologies will be needed in the future to determine the vulnerability of other public and private facilities, such as ports, airports, transportation centers, hospitals, colleges and universities, and other vital public and private facilities.

Practical implications

This research provides a framework for future research on the topic of vulnerability assessments. Refinements and modifications can be made to the proposed methodology (both to the vulnerability assessment criteria and to the vulnerability ratings).

Originality/value

This paper provides original research and sets forth a new methodology for conducting vulnerability assessments of public and private buildings.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 16 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 2005

Tomas Hellström

To develop a decision model supporting employee involvement in industrial vulnerability reduction.

1893

Abstract

Purpose

To develop a decision model supporting employee involvement in industrial vulnerability reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

A synthesis review of some of the relevant extant literature on technological/industrial vulnerability, and their application within a normative decision‐making model (i.e. the “Vroom‐Yetton model”).

Findings

The insights on vulnerability drawn from the literature are highly amenable to a systematic decision‐making model for employee involvement. Various aspects of vulnerability, specifically with regard to substantial, social and temporal dimensions may be included in such a model.

Research limitations/implications

New insights about the context‐dependent aspects of vulnerability are offered by considering these within a contingency decision model. This suggests that vulnerability categories are not absolute, but have to be assessed in relation to a specific decision‐making framework.

Practical implications

The developed model provides a way of weighting various dimensions of vulnerability and making more appropriate decisions regarding leadership style in a range of circumstances.

Originality/value

While decision models exist for assessing risk in organizations, no contingency model for employee involvement in vulnerability assessment has been presented to date.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 August 2024

Sajad Ferdowsi

Due to the nonrenewable nature of most geoheritage sites, restoration and reconstruction can be extremely difficult or even impossible. The purpose of this study is to create a…

Abstract

Purpose

Due to the nonrenewable nature of most geoheritage sites, restoration and reconstruction can be extremely difficult or even impossible. The purpose of this study is to create a model for the management of geoheritage conservation and vulnerability.

Design/methodology/approach

To develop the initial research model, two steps were taken. First, a systematic review of previous literature was conducted. Second, experts were asked to provide their input through semistructured and structured questionnaires. The statistical population of the research included experts and researchers in geoheritage. To analyze the data, the methods of meta-synthesis, thematic analysis and contextual analysis panels were used.

Findings

Based on research findings, a model for the management of geoheritage conservation and vulnerability has been developed. This model focuses on two key variables vulnerability and intervention, and it is based on three approaches: value-led conservation, preventive conservation and value-led management. The vulnerability variable has two dimensions: antecedents and drivers, while the intervention variable includes a management process with six dimensions: transparency, inclusion, institutionalization, communication, implementation and efficiency.

Originality/value

The management model for geoheritage conservation and vulnerability suggests that if the level of vulnerability of geological values can be controlled or reduced through management interventions, it is possible to achieve geoheritage conservation in three levels: physical, functional and visual.

目的

由于大多数地质遗迹具有不可再生性, 修复和重建可能极其困难甚至不可能。当前的研究旨在创建地质遗迹保护和脆弱性的管理模型。

设计/方法/方法

为了开发初始研究模型, 采取了两个步骤。首先, 对以前的文献进行了系统回顾。其次, 要求专家通过半结构化和结构化问卷提供意见。研究的统计人群包括地质遗迹专家和研究人员。为了分析数据, 使用了综合综合、主题分析和背景分析小组的方法。

结果

根据研究结果, 开发了地质遗迹保护和脆弱性的管理模型。该模型侧重于两个关键变量:脆弱性和干预, 并基于三种方法:价值主导的保护、预防性保护和价值主导的管理。脆弱性变量有两个维度:前因和驱动因素, 而干预变量包括一个管理过程, 该过程有六个维度:透明度、包容性、制度化、沟通、实施和效率。

原创性/价值

地质遗产保护和脆弱性的管理模型表明, 如果可以通过管理干预来控制或降低地质价值的脆弱性水平, 那么就有可能在物理、功能和视觉三个层面实现地质遗产保护。

Objetivo

Debido a la naturaleza no renovable de la mayoría de los sitios del geopatrimonio, la restauración y reconstrucción pueden ser extremadamente difíciles o incluso imposibles. La presente investigación se llevó a cabo para crear un modelo de gestión de la conservación y la vulnerabilidad del geopatrimonio.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

Para desarrollar el modelo de investigación inicial, se siguieron dos pasos. En primer lugar, se realizó una revisión sistemática de la bibliografía anterior. En segundo lugar, se solicitó la opinión de expertos mediante cuestionarios semiestructurados y estructurados. La población estadística de la investigación incluía expertos e investigadores en geopatrimonio. Para analizar los datos se utilizaron los métodos de metasíntesis, análisis temático y panel de análisis contextual.

Resultados

A partir de los resultados de la investigación, se ha desarrollado un modelo para la gestión de la conservación y la vulnerabilidad del geopatrimonio. Este modelo se centra en dos variables clave: la vulnerabilidad y la intervención, y se basa en tres enfoques: la conservación basada en el valor, la conservación preventiva y la gestión basada en el valor. La variable de vulnerabilidad tiene dos dimensiones: antecedentes e impulsores, mientras que la variable de intervención incluye un proceso de gestión con seis dimensiones: transparencia, inclusión, institucionalización, comunicación, aplicación y eficacia.

Originalidad/valor

El modelo de gestión de la conservación y la vulnerabilidad del geopatrimonio sugiere que si el nivel de vulnerabilidad de los valores geológicos puede controlarse o reducirse mediante intervenciones de gestión, es posible lograr la conservación del geopatrimonio en tres niveles: físico, funcional y visual.

Details

Tourism Review, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1660-5373

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 July 2024

Ali Utku Şahin

Turkey hosts the majority of Syrians who fled their country due to the Syrian Civil War that started in 2011, and Syrians mostly live in the provinces most affected by the…

Abstract

Purpose

Turkey hosts the majority of Syrians who fled their country due to the Syrian Civil War that started in 2011, and Syrians mostly live in the provinces most affected by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of the presence of disadvantaged population on disaster risk in Turkey, a disaster country, through the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes and Syrian asylum-seekers, based on the claim that the vulnerability caused by this additional population residing in the provinces most affected by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes is a factor that will increase the disastrousness of the earthquakes.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the mathematical model used in the calculation of the Human Development Index, the study comparatively calculates the vulnerability of the Turkish and Syrian populations residing in the earthquake-affected provinces by taking into account population density, gender, age, education and employment factors.

Findings

The findings of the analysis show that the vulnerability of Syrian asylum seekers in Kilis, Gaziantep and Hatay provinces is higher than the vulnerability of the Turkish population.

Originality/value

This paper shows significant findings on the effects of disadvantaged groups residing in a disaster-prone area concerning the consequences of the devastating earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023 in the southern region of Turkey.

Details

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-5908

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 July 2024

Andualem Goshu Mekonnen

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new vulnerability to income and multidimensional poverty estimation index (VIMPI). This index is designed to measure the likelihood of…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new vulnerability to income and multidimensional poverty estimation index (VIMPI). This index is designed to measure the likelihood of individuals falling into and remaining in poverty.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces a new methodology that integrates the concepts of the well-being gap, individual and indicator-specific weighting, and vulnerability. This approach is simple to apply and accurately measures vulnerability with less susceptibility to measurement error and outliers. The index satisfies all poverty and vulnerability axioms, including transferability and monotonicity. The newly proposed method has been applied to Namibian and Ghanaian data and compared with similar techniques.

Findings

The results showed that Ghana's vulnerability to income and multidimensional poverty was 37.9% and 56%, respectively. Of the 37.9% of vulnerable individuals, 23.4% were at risk of falling into poverty, while 14.57% were at risk of remaining in poverty. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of VIMPI in accurately estimating vulnerability to poverty and its potential to inform targeted policies to alleviate poverty.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a new methodology to estimate vulnerability to income and multidimensional poverty.

Details

International Journal of Development Issues, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1446-8956

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 16 July 2024

Aimro Likinaw, Arragaw Alemayehu and Woldeamlak Bewket

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change in northwest Ethiopia.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change in northwest Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this aim, data was collected from a survey of 352 households, which were stratified into three groups: Lay Gayint (138 or 39%), Tach Gayint (117 or 33%) and Simada district (97 or 28%). To gain a deeper understanding of the vulnerability of these households, two approaches were used: the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI), consisting of 32 indicators, and the socioeconomic vulnerability index (SeVI), containing 31 indicators. Furthermore, qualitative data was obtained through focus group discussions conducted in six randomly chosen groups from the three districts, which were used to supplement the findings.

Findings

Both methods indicate that Simada is the most vulnerable district, followed by Tach Gayint and Lay Gayint. According to the SeVI approach, Simada district showed the highest level of sensitivity and exposure to climate-related hazards, as well as the lowest score for adaptive capacity. However, using the LVI approach, Simada district was found to have the highest sensitivity to climate effects and exposure to climate-related hazards, along with a higher adaptive capacity than both Lay Gayint and Tach Gayint districts.

Originality/value

Although there are numerous studies available on the vulnerability of farmers to climate change, this particular study stands out by using and contrasting two approaches – the LVI and the SeVI – to assess the vulnerability of households in the study area. Previous research has indicated that no single approach is sufficient to evaluate climate change vulnerability, as each approach has its own strengths and limitations. The findings of this study have significant implications for policymakers and development practitioners, as they can use the results to identify the households that are most vulnerable to climate change. This will enable them to design adaptation options that are tailored to the specific needs of each community and that will effectively address the risks of current and future climate change.

Details

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-8692

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 11 June 2024

Adjo Amekudzi-Kennedy, Prerna Singh, Zhongyu Yang and Adair Garrett

This paper discusses a multifaceted approach to developing specific and general climate resilience in a state transportation system that focuses on organizations and physical…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper discusses a multifaceted approach to developing specific and general climate resilience in a state transportation system that focuses on organizations and physical infrastructure. The paper focuses on resilience building to the dynamically evolving climate-related threats and extreme events in a transportation agency. This paper aims to enable agencies to understand better how their systems are exposed to different hazards and provide the information necessary for prioritizing their assets and systems for resilience improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper leverages long-term climate hazard databases, spatial and statistical analyses and nonprobabilistic approaches for specific and general climate resilience improvement. Spatial and temporal variability assessments were conducted on granular historical records of exposure obtained from Spatial Hazards Events and Losses Database for the United States data set to identify emerging hot spots of exposure. These were then assessed in combination with various asset specific vulnerability parameters, presented with examples of pavements and bridges. Specific metrics were obtained for the various aspects of vulnerability in the context of a given asset to estimate the overall vulnerability. A criticality-vulnerability matrix was then developed to provide a prioritization model for transportation systems.

Findings

This paper provides insights into the evolving nature of exposure, vulnerability and risk assessments and an approach to systematically account for climate change and the uncertainties associated with it in resilience planning. The Multi-Hazards Exposure, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment tool presented in this paper conducts climate hazard exposure, vulnerability and risk analysis on pavements, bridges and culverts and can be applied by any transportation agency.

Research limitations/implications

This study does not address operational aspects of the transportation system nor include future climate scenario data, but uses the historical records available at hand for resilience planning. With better climate projection data available in the future, the approach should be enhanced by leveraging scenario-based planning.

Practical implications

This paper is of potential value to practitioners and researchers interested in developing resilience building capabilities to manage the effects of climate-related hazards and extreme events as well as unknown threats on infrastructure and organizational performance.

Originality/value

This paper bridges an important gap in infrastructure resilience approaches by systematically accounting for the dynamic nature of climate change and the system level context of vulnerability beyond the physical condition of assets.

Details

Smart and Resilient Transportation, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2632-0487

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 7 June 2024

Paul Chipangura, Dewald van Niekerk, Fortune Mangara and Annegrace Zembe

This study aimed to address the underexplored domain of organisational vulnerability, with a specific focus on understanding how vulnerability is understood in organisations and…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to address the underexplored domain of organisational vulnerability, with a specific focus on understanding how vulnerability is understood in organisations and the underlying pathways leading to vulnerability.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilised a narrative literature review methodology, using Google Scholar as the primary source, to analyse the concepts of organisational vulnerability in the context of disaster risk studies. The review focused on relevant documents published between the years 2000 and 2022.

Findings

The analysis highlights the multifaceted nature of organisational vulnerability, which arises from both inherent weaknesses within the organisation and external risks that expose it to potential hazards. The inherent weaknesses are rooted in internal vulnerability pathways such as organisational culture, managerial ignorance, human resources, and communication weaknesses that compromise the organisation’s resilience. The external dimension of vulnerability is found in cascading vulnerability pathways, e.g. critical infrastructure, supply chains, and customer relationships.

Originality/value

As the frequency and severity of disasters continue to increase, organisations of all sizes face heightened vulnerability to unforeseen disruptions and potential destruction. Acknowledging and comprehending organisational vulnerability is a crucial initial step towards enhancing risk management effectiveness, fostering resilience, and promoting sustainable success in an interconnected global environment and an evolving disaster landscape.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 33 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 June 2024

Pengcheng Xiang, Simai Yang, Yongqi Yuan and Ranyang Li

The purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the public safety risks of international construction projects (ICPs) from the perspective of threat and…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the public safety risks of international construction projects (ICPs) from the perspective of threat and vulnerability. A novel and comprehensive risk assessment approach is developed from a systemic perspective and applied to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to improve the public safety risk management strategy for ICPs in BRI.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a public safety risk indicator system was constructed from the two dimensions, namely threat and vulnerability. Next, an integrated measurement model was constructed by combining the Genetic Algorithm-Backpropagation (GA-BP) neural network, fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and matter-element extension (MME) method. Data from 49 countries involved in the BRI, as well as five typical projects, were used to validate the model. Finally, targeted risk prevention measures were identified for use at the national, enterprise and project levels.

Findings

The findings indicate that while the vulnerability risks of typical projects in each region of the BRI were generally low, threat risks were high in West Asia and North Africa, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries and South Asia.

Originality/value

First, the structure of the public safety risk system of ICPs was analyzed using vulnerability and system theories. The connotation of public safety risk was defined based on two dimensions, namely threat and vulnerability. The idea of measuring threat risk with public data and measuring vulnerability risk with project data was clarified, and the risk measurement was integrated into the measurement results to help researchers and managers understand and systematically consider the public safety risks of ICPs. Second, a public safety risk indicator system was constructed, including 18 threat risk indicators and 14 vulnerability risk indicators to address the gaps in the existing research. The MEE model was employed to overcome the problem of incompatible indicator systems and provide stable and credible integrated measurement results. Finally, the whole-process public safety risk management scheme designed in this study can help to both provide a reference point for the Chinese enterprises and oversea contractors in market selection as well as improve ICP public safety risk management.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

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