International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment

Penelope Allan

2014 International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment

doi: 10.1108/IJDRBE-05-2012-0013

Purpose – This paper aims to propose the concept of resilience as a way of aligning these disciplines. Theories of recovery planning and urban design theories have a common interest in providing for the health and safety of urban communities. However, the requirements of safe refuge and recovery after a disturbance, such as an earthquake, are sometimes at odds with theories of urbanism. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses the data from two case studies: the earthquake and fire of 1906 in San Francisco and the Chile earthquake of 2010. It uses a set of resilience attributes already embedded in the discourse of urban theory to evaluate each city’s built environment and the way people have adapted to that built environment to recover following an earthquake. Findings – The findings suggests that resilience attributes, when considered interdependently, can potentially assist in the design of resilient cities which have an enhanced capacity to recover following an earthquake. Originality/value – They also suggest that the key to the successful integration of recovery planning and urban design lies in a shift of thinking that sees resilience as a framework for the design of cities that not only contributes significantly to the quality of everyday urban life but also can be adapted as essential life support and an agent of recovery in the event of an earthquake.

Erik Bichard

2014 International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment

doi: 10.1108/IJDRBE-02-2012-0008

Purpose – The UK Government is spending an increasingly large sum on flood protection to protect communities and businesses. Flood events are predicted to become more frequent and severe as a result of global warming, and the government is seeking to find ways to ensure that individual householders are prepared for this. Attitudinal studies have shown that there is an interest by homeowners to respond to motivational behaviour change strategies and accept incentives such as non‐cash rewards in return for investing in flood protection measures for their houses. This paper builds on a study trialling the measures suggested in the earlier attitudinal studies in a flood‐threatened community in North West England. Design/methodology/approach – The hypothesis of the research has been formulated from the findings from the earlier phase of the project and was further supported with a comprehensive literature review. The data collection was carried out using survey strategies. During the data analysis, the research adopted descriptive statistical methods. The information gathered by the survey of 50 householders in the study area was analysed using statistics software. Findings – Policymakers in the UK are beginning to consider the theories and methods that have been proposed by behavioural economists and social psychologists when designing strategies to influence action on climate change. The Timperley Green Homes trials and the attitudinal work that underpinned it are examples of how some of this thinking can be applied in the field. A combination of information delivered at key moments in the decision‐making process, incentives and norm‐based influences have the potential to help motivate the owners of domestic property to invest in flood protection measures. However, this strategy needs to be delivered within the context of affordable materials and installer costs. In addition, regulators and local government will need to devise more effective ways to communicate both the likelihood and the significance of a flood incident on householder’s properties because, at present, there is little evidence to suggest that the population thinks that flooding is a high priority concern. Research limitations/implications – The Trial was designed to be a limited sample experiment that was commissioned as a proof of concept study. However, policymakers may require a larger sample and an extended period before the proposals are rolled out on a national scale. Practical implications – The study was commissioned by the UK flood management regulator and a local authority to help design future strategies to influence householders who are sceptical or are underactive to messages about the effects of climate change. The study provides evidence for some fresh thinking on how to mount future‐influencing strategies by government bodies. Originality/value – There have been some attitudinal studies around flooding and behaviour, but the authors know of none that have used non‐cash incentives as the central proposition to be tested. The Trial was also original in the way it incorporated other influencers including norm‐based tactics and facilitation in a combined strategy with incentives.

Ainuddin Syed

2014 International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment

doi: 10.1108/IJDRBE-12-2010-0053

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the vulnerability of communities prone to earthquake hazards in Baluchistan at the community and household levels and identify the determinants accounting for the vulnerability of the communities. Baluchistan is vulnerable to potential seismic risk and has recently suffered huge economic and property losses due to the October 2008 earthquake. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on household surveys, field observations, key informant interviews and focus‐group discussions for the assessment of community vulnerability to earthquakes. Findings – The analysis revealed that the community is vulnerable to earthquake hazards both at the community and household levels. The logistic regression model identified three variables, namely, ownership of residential unit, family size and household income, as the most important factors in influencing community vulnerability to earthquake hazards. Practical implications – The paper may help emergency managers, policymakers and local government authorities to implement building codes, urban planning by‐laws and projects and activities to empower communities for disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction. Originality/value – The paper concludes that for earthquake safety, building regulations and spatial planning by‐laws should be implemented and monitored rigorously. Community preparedness is essential for enhancing people’s awareness against future earthquake hazards in the area.

Simon Tucker

2014 International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment

doi: 10.1108/IJDRBE-06-2012-0019

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to discuss selected aspects of the design of post‐disaster housing building on current guidance in this area. The paper focuses on the use of appropriate materials and technology to suit the climate and site and draws lessons from traditional housing types and settlement patterns. Design/methodology/approach – A case study of a design project is used to illustrate an approach toward sustainable design. The approach is structured and could therefore fit into the wider structures and frameworks of providing such housing. Findings – A design was generated that meets many of the desired environmental criteria. It was also found that important design resources are required by the design team not mentioned in the existing guidelines. Research limitations/implications – A limitation of the paper is that the design is hypothetical and there has been no input from prospective inhabitants or other groups. Practical implications – The design approach illustrated here may be of use to relief organizations working in the field and also could be used to develop further awareness of sustainability. Organizations that provide for and coordinate post‐disaster construction could consider making further design resources available as part of a project. Social implications – The study addresses the design of housing, which itself is an activity located in society. Originality/value – The paper adds to the discussion on the design of post‐disaster housing and supports the argument that such housing can help to support wider and longer‐term development.

Bassam Baroudi

2014 International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment

doi: 10.1108/IJDRBE-07-2012-0021

Purpose – This paper aims to identify stakeholder issues on disaster restoration projects from a contractor perspective. Disaster occurrences normally warrant substantial restoration and reconstruction efforts. These projects involve the mitigation and repair of disaster‐affected buildings and structures. Design/methodology/approach – This study is essentially exploratory in nature. It reviews relevant literature and then presents empirical research findings garnered from disaster restoration practitioners. A survey using the Likert rating scale method was used. The data were collected via an online questionnaire survey. Findings – The results confirm that disaster restoration projects contain significant stakeholder issues and challenges. Furthermore, these can differ from conventional construction and the work of “first responders” to disaster situations. Hence, disaster restoration projects are seen as having their own unique identity. Research limitations/implications – This paper has only set out to uncover stakeholder issues on disaster restoration projects. Future research that delves into the issues in greater depth would be useful. Practical implications – Disaster restoration practitioners need to be aware of conflicting stakeholder interests. These need careful management so that stakeholder issues do not impact successful project outcomes. Hence, informing industry (and academia) on these issues carries significant importance. Originality/value – Past research has tended to adopt macro perspectives on disaster preparedness, response and management. This research focuses on repairing and restoring disaster‐affected buildings and structures from a restoration industry standpoint. The findings should be useful to the global disaster restoration community and those in associated fields.

Esther Charlesworth

2014 International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment

doi: 10.1108/IJDRBE-06-2012-0016

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify practical lessons for urban managers involved in the post‐disaster field, drawing on research about ethnic division, conflict and reconstruction in five divided cities. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses the original case study fieldwork in the five divided cities to identify how the concept of “urban contract” can be used to explain the impacts of different levels of resilience to conflict or disaster. It also examines the importance of rebuilding the urban contract for community resilience as the key to “building back better” in urban reconstruction. Findings – This analysis indicates three important lessons about the importance of the “urban contract” in building disaster resilience. The first is that disasters, like conflict, can be anticipated and strategies put in place to strengthen the social networks on which community resilience depends – and that such anticipatory behaviour provides the time to do this. The second finding is that dispersing people away from a damaged neighbourhood for any period but the absolute minimum necessary to ensure public health and community well‐being should be avoided at all costs. The third finding relates to the importance of using skilled public consultation and engagement in physical reconstruction as a way of enhancing social reconstruction. Originality/value – This is the first paper to draw parallels between the impacts of conflict and disasters on the urban contract between city managers and citizens. As well as identifying key lessons for disaster resilience, the paper makes a strong theoretical contribution by pointing to the significance of the urban contract in wider studies of cities and disasters.

Jamie MacKee

2014 International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment

doi: 10.1108/IJDRBE-09-2012-0032

Purpose – This paper aims to propose an alternative strategy for preparing, recovering and conserving cultural built heritage (CBH) in the context of natural disasters. It presents the idea that disaster preparedness is integral to CBH protection and conservation. Design/methodology/approach – Building upon a review of existing scholarship on CBH, resilience and disaster management, a conceptual model is proposed to assist key stakeholders preparing for the recovery of CBH after natural disasters. It is argued that the protection and recovery of CBH in the wake of natural disasters require a holistic approach and that the theoretical framework of resilience thinking can support such an approach. Findings – The paper discusses how the process of adaptive cycles has a role to play in the development of a holistic understanding of the conservation process. It proposes an adaptive cycle model that is supported by four critical factors: reordering, conserving, shifting and transforming. Originality/value – Through exploration of systems thinking and resilience theory, the research presented in this paper explores a new approach to the conceptualisation of CBH. The paper presents the first stage of a research project that aims to develop strategies that can support the protection and recovery of CBH in the wake of natural disasters. The proposed model represents a holistic approach for reconceptualising CBH and may, as such, have potential implications that extend from the field of post‐disaster recovery into the domain of CBH conservation and protection.