An ethical approach to socio-economic information sources in ongoing vulnerability and resilience studies: the Mount Cameroon case

Apa, Maria Ilaria Pannaccione; Kouokam, Emmanuel; Akoko, Robert Mbe; Nana, Celestin; Buongiorno, M. F.

doi:10.4401/ag-5569

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

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Investigating the Management of Geological Hazards and Risks in the Mt Cameroon Area Using Focus Group Discussions

Marmol

Fontijn

Atanga

et al. 2017

Advances in Volcanology

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The scientific evaluation of hazards and risks remains a primary concern in poorly known volcanic regions. The use of such information to develop an effective risk management structure and risk reduction actions however also poses important challenges. We here present the results of a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) organised with city councillors from three municipalities around Mt Cameroon volcano, Cameroon. The Mt Cameroon area is a volcanically and tectonically active region regularly affected in the historical past by lava flows, landslides and earthquake swarms, and has a potential for crater lake outgassing. The lower flanks of the volcano are densely populated and the site of intense economic development. The FGDs were aimed at the elicitation of (1) the knowledge and perception of geological hazards, (2) the state of preparedness and the implementation of mitigation and prevention actions by the municipalities, (3) the evaluation of the effectiveness of the structure of communication channels established to respond to emergency situations, and (4) the recovery from an emergency. In all three municipalities stakeholders had good knowledge of the risks, except for processes never experienced in the region. They generally grasped the causes of landslides or floods but were less familiar with volcano-tectonic processes. Stakeholders identified the lack of strategic planning to monitor hazards and mitigate their impacts as a major weakness, requesting additional education and scientific support. Response to natural hazards is mostly based on informal communication channels and is supported by a high level of trust between local scientists, decision makers and the population. Actions are taken to raise awareness and implement basic mitigation and prevention actions, based on the willingness of local political leaders. The strong centralisation of the risk management process at the national level and the lack of political and financial means at the local level are major limitations in the implementation of an effective risk management strategy adapted to local risk conditions. Our case study highlights the need for earth and social scientists to actively work together with national and local authorities to translate the findings of scientific hazard and risk assessment into improved risk management practices.

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Investigating the Management of Geological Hazards and Risks in the Mt Cameroon Area Using Focus Group Discussions

Marmol

Fontijn

Atanga

et al. 2017

Advances in Volcanology

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WebGIS as boundary tools between scientific geoinformation and disaster risk reduction action in volcanic areas

Cozannet

Bagni²,

Thierry³

et al. 2014

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract.As the amount of spatial data is growing, there is increased interest in developing tools to explore, visualize and interpret them, with the final aim of informing decision making efficiently. Within the European MIAVITA project, we examined this issue in the case of volcanic areas, where existing geospatial databases are particularly complex due to the number of threats to be considered, including volcanic (e.g. lava flows, ash fall) and non-volcanic hazards, such as landslides or tsunamis. We involved a group of hazard and risk analysts and managers, civil security officers, GIS analysts and system developers to design a Web-based geographical information system (WebGIS). We tested the system at the Mount Cameroon volcano, taking advantage of a complex hazard and risk geographical database. This study enabled identifying key requirements for such tools in volcanic areas, such as the need to manage user privileges differently according to their profile and the status of the volcano. This work also highlights that, in addition to the development of large geoinformation clearinghouses, there is a need for sitespecific information systems focused on working procedures of users, in order to fill the last gap between data producers and users.

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On the use of Web-based-GIS for managing and disseminating hazard and risk spatial information in volcanic areas

Cozannet¹,

Bagni²,

Thierry³

et al. 2013

Preprint

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Abstract. In volcanic areas exposed to multiple geological hazards, the efficient interpretation of the increasing amount of geographical data is a challenging issue. Within the European MIAVITA project, we investigated to which extent WebGIS can facilitate this interpretation through the visualization of such complex hazard and risk database. This analysis was structured around (1) the development of a Web-based Geographical Information System (WebGIS) and of an application for managing the geographical database, and (2) interactions with a group of hazard and risk analysts and managers, civil security officers, GIS analysts and system developers. We tested the system in the Mount Cameroon volcano, taking advantage of a complex hazard and risk geographical database collected previously. Key requirements here related to the need for a structured and flexible GIS-database and to manage user's privileges differently according to their profile and the status of the volcano. In addition, this study showed that it is important for such systems to manage different status for data, from data than can only be interpreted by experts (e.g. some complex remote sensing products) to data that can be disseminated to any potential user (e.g. a regulatory hazard map). While the developed tool is able to provide users with enough flexibility to respond to the users' requirements, it is still necessary to own expertise in WebGIS to manage such tools in the long term in local volcano observatory. Nevertheless, this study shows that WebGIS-based systems can relatively easily integrate some most important working procedures of hazard and risk management in volcanic areas.

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An ethical approach to socio-economic information sources in ongoing vulnerability and resilience studies: the Mount Cameroon case

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Investigating the Management of Geological Hazards and Risks in the Mt Cameroon Area Using Focus Group Discussions

Investigating the Management of Geological Hazards and Risks in the Mt Cameroon Area Using Focus Group Discussions

WebGIS as boundary tools between scientific geoinformation and disaster risk reduction action in volcanic areas

On the use of Web-based-GIS for managing and disseminating hazard and risk spatial information in volcanic areas

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