The Multi–Disaster risk assessment: A-GIS based approach for Izmir City

Abstract

Urban settlements currently face many disasters that are increasing in number and frequency every day such as floods, landslides, sea level rise, storms, drought, forest fires, etc. due to the negative consequences of global climate change caused by significantly exceeding the carrying capacity of nature. Cities are currently becoming less resistant to disaster risks because of the unhealthy settlements. These settlements are becoming widespread in terms of physical, economic and social conditions as a natural result of the urbanization in which planning processes are carried out in an uncontrolled and unsupervised manner. This situation makes it a necessity to develop strategies and policies aimed at reducing and/or eliminating possible disaster damages which are defined as high risk. From this viewpoint, the study aims to reveal the current disaster risks in urban areas with a dense population and building stock. Izmir city is determined as the study area. Spatial analyses are performed for disaster risk by using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) tools and Weighted Overlap method considering the natural and built environment elements that significantly affect the disaster risk. The findings obtained from the study and the determinations made within the scope of the Izmir Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Plan (IRAP) prepared by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) are evaluated comparatively. As a result, it has been seen that the determinations put forward for disaster risks have shown consistency throughout Izmir city and the studies carried out at the local level have been prioritized in such a way as to be aimed at risk management and prevention planning by the time.