This PICO session will address natural hazards and associated single and multi-hazard risk evaluations in developing countries, including the role of humans in magnifying or decreasing those hazards. In developing countries, hazard and risk analysis presents specific challenges such as (i) data collection, (ii) rapid informal and unplanned development creating large demands on services and infrastructure, (iii) complex natural-human systems, (iv) limited resources and capacity, (v) climate change and (vi) communication between science, policy and the public. Here, we define “developing countries” as countries/regions with a low to medium human development index, according to the United Nations. We welcome submissions from a range of stakeholders to share their innovative theoretical and practical ideas and success stories of how single and multi-hazard risk can be understood and addressed in urbanized areas across developing countries.
The design of effective disaster risk reduction practices and the planning of resilient communities requires also the evaluation of multiple hazards and their interactions. Therefore, this session aims to address comprehensive hazard and risk approaches, which include hazard interactions, multi-vulnerability studies, and multi-hazard exposure characterization.
Presentations will cover a variety of topics including: database and archive construction; modelling, instrumentation and tools covering the whole risk assessment chain; conceptual understanding of multi-hazards and complex natural-technological systems; and communication and policy. We particularly welcome abstracts focused on urban areas in developing countries, as the rapid urbanization of developing countries may result in significant accumulation of risk in the coming years. We anticipate a lively discussion and the sharing of best practice and novel ideas to reduce the impact of hazard events in developing countries.