The role of disaster knowledge management in improving housing reconstruction outcomes: with particular reference to Postearthquake reconstruction in Pakistan

Abstract

Purpose Rural building practices, especially in developing communities, are often plagued by inadequate local construction knowledge and a limited understanding of the best building practice guidelines. This has contributed significantly to compounding the effect of significant catastrophic events. The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential impact of disaster knowledge management (DKM) on improving housing resilience and makes particular reference to the 2005 earthquake in rural Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Our research uses a comprehensive literature review that involves a qualitative approach to research aimed at understanding the 2005 earthquakes, their impacts, reconstruction challenges and DKM. Conventional published journals, articles, previous case studies and books were included. But importantly, to take in relevant local information, the review also took in published government reports, disaster mitigation policy documents, national and international NGOs publications, conference proceedings and news articles. More than 80 research papers and conference proceedings over 21 years, from 2001 to 2021, were analyzed in eight major online databases. These include Google Scholar, Science Direct, Research Gate, Scopus, Jstor, Springer, Emerald and Semantic Scholar. Findings The investigation identified that DKM has an important role to play in capacity building and technical knowledge transmission relating to seismic guidelines aimed at improving housing resilience. Consequently, a theoretical framework was developed, focused primarily on the post-2005 rural reconstruction mechanism and the identification of key challenges to disseminating seismic guidelines effectively in relation to rural construction practices. Originality/value This paper makes an original contribution by developing a DKM framework via the identification of key challenges that need to be addressed, in relation to rural construction practices, generally, but particularly in the Pakistan context.

Application of Technological Tools in Improving Housing Resilience

“…"Non-engineered construction" is informal construction that is carried out with little or no input from professionals such as architects or engineers [13]. Such structures are often inappropriate and unsafe in hazard prone areas [14]. Following the 2005 earthquake in rural areas, an "owner-driven reconstruction (ODR)" was implemented to create a more resilient and sustainable society.…”

Increasing safety in residential construction through a simplified earthquake- and typhoon-resistant guidelines

“…The current literature focuses on designing systems of disaster resilience through disaster management (Charlesworth & Fien, 2022;Shaikh et al, 2022) and investigating housing construction practices in the informal housing sector (Chmutina & Rose, 2018). However, there is a lack of information on two important factors in building resilient housing: detailed observations of causes of damage to residential buildings; and a detailed structural calculation addressing every issue identified as a cause of damage to residential buildings.…”

Improving Housing Resilience through Disaster Knowledge Management (DKM) Assessment

“…They can directly or indirectly affect the outcomes of DM. Some researchers have attempted to identify key knowledge factors for managing disasters successfully and have mapped them against the typical DM cycle (Dahlan et al, 2013;Glaesser, 2006;Pathirage et al, 2014;Shaikh et al, 2023). The factors generally identified are:…”