Spatial Data for

Disaster Risk ManagementCaribbean DRM and CCA – Spatial Data to Inform Decision-Making Workshop

2

DIMENSIONS OF DRM:

Understanding Risk

Risk Reduction

Financial Protection/ Risk Transfer

Preparedness & Emergency Management

Resilient Reconstruction

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Risk Identification

4

RISKExpo

sure

Vulnerability

Hazard

Risk Identification

RISKExpo

sure

Vulnerability

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Hazard

Dangerous phenomenon that may cause loss of life, injury, property damage, loss of livelihoods, etc.

6

RISKExpo

sure

Vulnerability

Hazard

Assets (people, property etc.) present in hazard zones that are thereby subject to potential loss

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RISKExpo

sure

Vulnerability

Hazard

The characteristics of an asset (community, system etc.) that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of

a hazard

8

RISKExpo

sure

Vulnerability

Hazard

The likelihood of damage, loss, injury or other negative

consequences of an event

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• Collection of information on past events and past damages

→ Insights on the mechanisms (why, how, what the effects were etc.)

• Translate this understanding into a model

→ Where may future events take place, with what probability and what possible consequences could be

What type of analysis you choose depends very much on the use you want to give it…

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Mitigati

on of

presen

t risk

s

Avoidance of future

risks

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• Policies and laws (building codes, land use planning, etc.)

• Resettlement

• Retrofitting of buildings

• Hazard mitigation measures (Dams and seawalls, slope stabilization, reforestation, etc.)

• Legislative framework and actions to avoid the exacerbation of hazards

Can you avoid the risk?

Can you mitigate the risk?

Risk TransferCan you transfer the risk?

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Risk Reduction

Financial protection – the impact will still take place

Financial liquidity directly after an event

Figure modified after UNISDR

Risk RetainingNo

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• Early warning systems

• Shelter facilities and evacuation plans

• Stockpiling

• Networks of emergency responders

• Etc.

Build an emergency response and management capability before a disaster occurs

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Rehabilitation and reconstruction

• Where to build (relocation of facilities, infrastructure and even entire villages/cities)

• How to build (building codes etc.)

“Build back better”

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Understanding RiskRisk Reduction

Financial Protection

Preparedness

Resilient Reconstruction

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“UNDERSTANDING RISK” AS BASIS

• Understanding risk is the prerequisite for all further DRM activities

• There is not a “one size fits all” risk assessment – the type of information required depends on a multitude of factors

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“UNDERSTANDING RISK” AS BASIS

One size DOESN’T fit all

The information you need/ the analyses you want to carry out depend on:

• Objective of the hazard/ vulnerability/ exposure/ risk analysis

• Temporal scale

• Spatial scale / area of interest

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ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL

OBJECTIVE

Distribution of hazards

Distribution of risks

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ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL

Prioritize interventions

Implement risk mitigation measures• Screening

• Initial assessment/ overview• Collection of detailed data• In-depth analysis

OBJECTIVE

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ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL

TEMPORAL SCALE

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ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL

SPATIAL SCALE

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“UNDERSTANDING RISK” AS BASIS

HIGH DATA AND INFORMATION NEEDS:

• For direct use

• As input data for analyses

MULTITUDE OF ACTORS IS INVOLVED

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“UNDERSTANDING RISK” AS BASIS

Precipitation

Land use

Soils

Topography

Discharge

FLOOD HAZARD ANALYSIS AS EXAMPLE:

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“UNDERSTANDING RISK” AS BASIS

SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE:

• Storage of data

• Management

• Visualization

• Sharing

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“UNDERSTANDING RISK” AS BASIS

CRUCIAL PART OF THE SDI: METADATA

• Objective of the hazard/ vulnerability/ exposure/ risk analysis

• Temporal scale

• Spatial scale / area of interest

• Quality of the input data/ analysis

• Year of creation

• Etc.

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“UNDERSTANDING RISK” AS BASIS

Be aware of limitations

• CLEARLY DEFINE WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• MAKE THE MOST OUT OF ALL DATA AND INFORMATION THAT IS ALREADY AVAILABLE

• ¡BE AWARE OF LIMITATIONS!

• SEARCH FOR ADEQUATE WAYS TO COMPLEMENT WHAT YOU HAVE WITH WHAT YOU NEED