A GIS model for systemic vulnerability assessment in urbanized areas supporting the landslide risk management

Abstract

This paper aims to create a model for analyzing the systemic vulnerability of a complex urban area at landslide risk. The proposed approach of vulnerability evaluation differs from traditional methods as it provides an analysis of "Systemic Vulnerability" measuring the direct and indirect consequences of a simulated event on the territorial system. For example, the collapsing of a bridge, apart from the intrinsic loss, could bring about the interruption of an entire traffic zone, or interrupt the functions of a hospital with consequences on the health system in general as well as on mobility, communication, efficiency of civil protection forces, etc. GIS technology allows the automated application of the method by creating a model that processes, analyzes and displays data in the form of maps. The model proposed was shown to be able to support the territorial planning and the appropriate management of an emergency in case of landslide event. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.