Activity 5

Vulnerability assessment: working on operational concepts

n Ensure project we focused our research on the analysis of the vulnerability of territorial systems to the consequences of natural or and na-tech disasters. It becomes therefore very important to better identify and measure in which way and to what extent a territory is exposed to certain types of hazards. Improving the understanding of the factors that make a community vulnerable (or resilient) is therefore crucial.
Here we will go through some key concepts “for the building” of an assessment process as developed by the ENSURE project.

  1. The ENSURE project approach underlines three factors in its methodology for assessing vulnerability and resilience: systemic, time and space. What do these mean according to the conceptual and operational framework?
  2. Some key elements for vulnerability assessment follow. Can you explain their meaning?
    • Complex framework of vulnerabilities
    • Vulnerability of coupled ecological-human systems
    • From static to dynamic vulnerability assessment: the time factor
    • Vulnerability assessment: cross-scale effects
    • Resilience dimensions in facing complex disasters
    • Tools for analyzing vulnerabilities to complex hazardous events