Abstract
The German Research Network for Natural Disasters (DFNK) linked 15 partners with scientific expertise in the field of natural hazards. Main objectives were the development and provision of the scientific fundamentals for an advanced risk management of important natural disasters in Germany, i.e., floods, earthquakes, storms and wildland fires. This included risk analyses, the development of information systems for supporting disaster management, and recommendations for risk reduction measures. This paper gives an overview of DFNK and summarises its experiences concerning multidisciplinarity and user-orientation. It illustrates the concept of risk chains, causally linking the different processes from hazard to risk. The step from hazard to risk requires interdisciplinary research teams. The experiences show that integrative concepts allow results not achievable with mono-disciplinary approaches. Integrative approaches pave the way to harmonised safety considerations taking into account the different hazards in a region within a common framework. User-orientation, policy advice and development of operational tools are key issues of disaster research. The experiences of DFNK illustrate the limitations of a research network in bridging the gap between research and application within rather short-term projects. Successful cooperation with users could be established by those activities where, at the beginning of the project, a user was identified who had a strong interest in solving an urgent problem.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
H. Apel A. H. Thieken B. Merz G. Blöschl (2006) ArticleTitleA probabilistic modelling system for assessing flood risks Nat. Hazards 38 79–100
Burgan, R. E. and Rothermel R. C.: 1984, BEHAVE: Fire behavior prediction and fuel modeling system – fuel subsystem, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, INT-167, Ogden, UT.
Finney, M. A.: 1998, FARSITE: Fire area simulator – model development and evaluation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, RMRS-PR-4, Ogden, UT.
A. V. Gheorghe R. Mock (1999) Risk Engineering: Bridging Risk Analysis with Stakeholders Values Kluwer Academic Publishers Dordrecht
S. Goebell H.-U. Wetzel (2006) ArticleTitleContributions to the deformation analysis in Germany based on precise and continuous GPS measurements Nat. Hazards 38 177–197
T. Grothmann F. Reusswig (2006) ArticleTitlePeople at Risk of Flooding: Why some residents take precautionary action while others do not Nat. Hazards 38 101–120
G. Grünthal R. Musson J. Schwarz M. Stucchi (1998) European Macroseismic Scale 1998 NumberInSeriesVol. 15 Cahiers du Centre Européen de Geodynamique et de Seismologie Luxembourg
G. Grünthal A. H. Thieken J. Schwarz A. Smolka B. Merz (2006) ArticleTitleComparative risk assessments for the City of Cologne – storms, floods, earthquakes Nat. Hazards 38 21–44
G. Grünthal R. Wahlström (2006) ArticleTitleNew Generation of Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment for the area Cologne/Aachen Considering the Uncertainties of the Input Data Nat. Hazards 38 159–176
K.-P. Holz G. Hildebrandt L. Weber (2006) ArticleTitleConcept for a Web-based Information System for Flood Management Nat. Hazards 38 121–140
P. Kamrath M. Disse M. Hammer J. Köngeter (2006) ArticleTitleAssessment of Discharge through a Dike Breach and Simulation of Flood Wave Propagation Nat. Hazards 38 63–78
P. Köhler J. Wächter (2006) ArticleTitleTowards an Open Information Infrastructure for Disaster Research and Management: Data Management and Information Systems Inside DFNK Nat. Hazards 38 141–157
L. Menzel A. H. Thieken D. Schwandt G. Bürger (2006) ArticleTitleImpact of Climate Change on the Regional Hydrology – Scenario-Based Modelling Studies in the German Rhine Catchment Nat. Hazards 38 45–61
D. E. Mileti (1999) Disasters by Design. A Reassessment of Natural Hazards in the United States Joseph Henry Press Washington, DC
M. Mueller K. Segl U. Heiden H. Kaufmann (2006) ArticleTitlePotential of High-Resolution Satellite Data in the Context of Vulnerability of Buildings Nat. Hazards 38 247–258
O. Renn (1998a) ArticleTitleThe role of risk perception for risk management Reliab. Eng. Syst. Safety 59 49–62 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0951-8320(97)00119-1
O. Renn (1998b) ArticleTitleThree decades of risk research: accomplishments and new challenges J. Risk Res. 1 49–71 Occurrence Handle10.1080/136698798377321
S.M. Richwalski A. Fäcke S. Parolai L. Stempniewski (2006) ArticleTitleInfluence of Site and Source Dependent Ground Motion Scenarios on the Seismic Safety of Long-span Bridges in Cologne, Germany Nat. Hazards 38 237–246
J. Röhner S.A. Savidis (2006) ArticleTitleInfluence of the Sedimentary Cover in the Cologne Area on the Shape of Response Spectra Nat. Hazards 38 215–227
J. Schwarz M. Raschke H. Maiwald (2006) ArticleTitleComparative Seismic Risk Studies for German Earthquake Regions on the Basis of European Macroseismic Scale EMS-98 Nat. Hazards 38 259–282
K. Thonicke W. Cramer (2006) ArticleTitleLong-term Trends in Vegetation Dynamics and Forest Fires in Brandenburg (Germany) Under a Changing Climate Nat. Hazards 38 283–300
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Merz, B., Friedrich, J., Disse, M. et al. Possibilities and Limitations of Interdisciplinary, User-oriented Research: Experiences from the German Research Network Natural Disasters. Nat Hazards 38, 3–20 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-005-8597-1
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-005-8597-1