Estimating spatial disaster risk in urban environments

Abstract

Establishment of industries in urban zones increases the risk of technological disasters, thus affecting both population and the infrastructure. Disaster management includes organizational support building, risk assessment and prioritization, and analytical tools to support decision-making. A methodology has been proposed for estimating spatial disaster risk using the case of Toronto propane explosion of 2008, taking into account people's vulnerability, critical infrastructure, and the spatial impact of the hazard. It integrates the use of GIS spatial analysis and disaster management principles and can be visualized in web-mapping browsers for planning purposes. This approach can be applied in developing strategies for future risk reduction, risk-based land use planning, resilience, and capacity-building.