Authors / CoAuthors
Schneider, J.
Abstract
Increases in natural disasters worldwide are presenting new challenges for natural hazard risk research. Natural disasters are more likely than ever to have global impact in a world where catastrophic risk is shared across national and international boundaries and between the public and private sector. Climate change is the popular scapegoat for the increase in disasters; but exponential growth in human population and assets as well as increased exposure of populations in coastal areas and megacities are equally to blame. Interest in natural hazard risk is widespread among the public, in all levels of government, in international relations and across the private sector. This presentation explores how these issues and interests are manifest in the evolution of natural hazards risk research, including the role of geoscientists in this process. 30 years ago, natural hazard research was narrowly confined to the development of hazard maps, which were used primarily for input to building codes and the design of major infrastructure or critical facilities. Today, solutions require multi-hazard information and the development of a wide range of analyses about the exposure and vulnerability of communities. Further, it is not enough to just quantify the problem; results also require solutions in the form of options for mitigating the risk. These new demands require inter-disciplinary teams of hazard scientists, engineers, economists, social scientists, mathematicians, geographers and more. The development of solutions also requires the involvement of a wider range of stakeholders and clients in order to ensure that products are fit for purpose. The drivers for better natural hazard risk information are now evident in Australia in the form of significant new national policies. The new National Security policy issued in 2008 recognises that natural hazards can pose catastrophic risk for Australia. In 2009, the Australian Agency for International Development issued a Disaster Reduction Policy as a foundation of its capacity building programs overseas; natural hazards are a key element of this policy, which has resulted in significant investments in natural hazard risk research in the region. Geoscientists have a major role to play in meeting the demand for information on natural disasters and in assessing natural hazard risk. First of all, there is greater demand for information to describe the processes that lead to natural hazard events. This includes better understanding of the causes and probabilities of these events, as well as descriptions of events in a physical and spatial context. Hazard or risk models based solely on statistical methods are no longer sufficient. Natural hazard science is moving to physically-based models which are driven by an understanding of Earth dynamics, with increased computing power and improved simulation tools critical to this evolution. In terms of climate change hazards, there is an increasing demand for earth scientists to contribute to our understanding of the potential increases in coastal erosion, storm surge, riverine flooding, and sea-level rise, all of which require fundamental geological and geophysical input.
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nonGeographicDataset
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70281
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- GA PublicationAbstract
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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2010-01-01T00:00:00
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