Analysis and Classification of Natural Disasters
Abstract
Attaining a sense of the real magnitude of a disaster's severity cannot be easily comprehended, as there is no consistent method to distinguish disaster severity levels. Moreover, no current scale identifies the relationship between severity and impact factors. Consequently, no common system has been developed to help emergency responders measure the impact of natural disasters, to determine the proper allocation of resources, or to expedite mitigation processes.
This novel research develops an universal disaster severity classification, applicable to both civilians and responders, to generate a common communication platform comparing the impacts of disasters. This system provides an overall picture of the severity of natural disasters, yields independent estimates of a disaster’s magnitude, helps understand the disaster continuum, and gauges the need for regional, national, and international assistance. This research aligns with the priority of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 as it improves understanding of disaster risk.
Description
Keywords
Information Science, Statistics, Engineering--Civil
Citation
Caldera, H. J. (2017). Analysis and Classification of Natural Disasters (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/24811