The Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment
The main purpose of this part, probably the most important one, is to make user experience the assessment process developed by the ENSURE research group.
You will therefore find brief introductions to models, tools and techniques for the recognition of territorial elements and dynamics which could lead to different vulnerability levels together with the operational definition and application of vulnerability and resilience processes. Here it is suggested to pay attention to some particular elements like scale, time, indicators and data organization, knowledge building, territorial subjects and objects exposed to hazards.
After these, you will find elements to identify the goals of a “vulnerability assessment” (or of other typologies of assessments around hazard evaluation and management) in a certain territorial system. We will therefore drive your attention to the passage from theory to practice (in particular in terms of information collection and elaboration for parameters building). Importance of “time”, for instance, defining phases/sequences of events/analysis/interventions which can be reflected in building a certain sequence of activities (see experiences and case studies). Pay attention to differences concerning different tools coming from different studies. Finally you will find the ENSURE project approach to vulnerability and resilience assessment.
The final section will explore the use of vulnerability and resilience assessment results as an important base for the design and implementation of possible policy tools for hazard management. You will therefore find elements to connect vulnerability and resilience assessments with impact, emergency and recovery management, working at different institutional levels for a better governance and management of “the cycle of disaster” and for enhancing prevention and mitigation matters.
The files herewith enclosed offer a synthesis of the whole work and we suggest you to read the complete documents of the project in the ENSURE deliverables area to deepen all topics.