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Prioritization of disaster risk in a community using GIS

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Abstract

Prioritization of disaster risk was carried out for a community in Toronto, Canada. Geographic information systems (GIS) were used for spatial analysis, including spatial overlays and clipping for extracting spatial and attribute information related to people’s vulnerability, critical infrastructure and landuse. In order to determine disaster risk, the overall community vulnerability was evaluated by combining social, economic, physical and environmental vulnerabilities. This paper uses the propane explosion incident as the case in point to demonstrate the methodology and procedure used to evaluate risk using GIS techniques. City of Toronto spatial data have been integrated with the study area to gather landuse information, identify risk zones based on the propane storage facility location and evaluate risks. Statistics Canada 2006 census data have been used for area demographics and people’s social and economic status. Vulnerability indicators were determined based on the GIS-derived spatial and attribute data for the hazard and evacuation zones followed by a quantitative spatial risk estimation and ranking. The methodology of this study, based on the risk evaluation and prioritization conducted, can be applied to future decision making in effective landuse planning and the development of risk management strategies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Trudy Bodak, Head, Maps and GIS Librarian, Map Library, York University, for her enthusiastic support in providing the data for the study. York University is also acknowledged for partially funding this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geomatics Engineering, Earth & Space Science & Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Costas Armenakis

  2. Disaster and Emergency Management, School of Administrative Studies, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    N. Nirupama

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  1. Costas Armenakis
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  2. N. Nirupama
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Correspondence to Costas Armenakis.

Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 4, 5, 6, 7.

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Armenakis, C., Nirupama, N. Prioritization of disaster risk in a community using GIS. Nat Hazards 66, 15–29 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-012-0167-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-012-0167-8

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