Promoting the hybrid socio-technical approach for effective disaster risk reduction in developing countries

Abstract

This paper highlights the importance of integrating social and technical approaches (which is the so-called "hybrid socio-technical approach") as one innovative and strategic program with respect to disaster risk reduction. Such a program is mainly based on multi-disciplinary action research to support the community empowerment program through public education. The technical approach was mainly conducted for geological and geotechnical investigation to analyze and predict susceptibility levels of the disaster prone area, as well as to develop an appropriate technology for hazard mapping and disaster early warning. Meanwhile, the social approach was necessary for analyzing and mapping the psycho-social conditions of the disaster prone area, and accordingly an appropriate strategy and program to implement the early warning technology can be formulated. Moreover, it is also important to establish a "community task force" as the driving power for landslide disaster risk reduction which can sustain the program at the village level. © 2011 WIT Press.