Disaster Risk Reduction for the Built Environment [Paperback]

Disaster Risk Reduction for the Built Environment provides a multi-facetted introduction to how a wide range of risk reduction options can be mainstreamed into formal and informal construction decision making processes, so that Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) can become part of the ‘developmental DNA’.  The contents highlight the positive roles that practitioners such as civil and structural engineers, urban planners and designers, and architects (to name just a few) can undertake to ensure that disaster risk is addressed when (re)developing the built environment. The book does not set out prescriptive (‘context blind’) solutions to complex problems because such solutions can invariably generate new problems. Instead it raises awareness, and in doing so, inspires a broad range of people to consider DRR in their work or everyday practices.

This highly-illustrated text book provides a broad range of examples, case studies and thinking points that can help the reader to consider how DRR approaches might be adapted for differing contexts. 

List of Figures xi

List of Tables xix

Note on the Authors xxi

Foreword xxiii

Acknowledgements xxv

List of Acronyms xxvii

List of Case Studies xxxi

List of Thinking Points xxxiii

Section I Introduction to Book and Concepts 1

1 Introduction 3

1.1 So what is a Disaster? 4

1.2 What are the Hazards and Threats? 4

1.3 Climate Change and Disasters 5

1.4 Impacts of Disasters Globally 9

1.5 Trends in the Occurrence of Disasters 11

1.6 Economic Losses 13

1.7 The Potential Roles of l£6