Thesis (Ph.D. (Geography)) - Rhodes University, 2007.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2005--Hannover.

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on November 13, 2009). Thesis advisor: Dr. Richard J. Callahan, Jr. Includes bibliographical references.

学位授与大学：京都大学 ; 取得学位: 博士(工学) ; 学位授与年月日: 2007-09-25 ; 学位の種類: 新制・課程博士 ; 学位記番号: 工博第2847号 ; 請求記号: 新制/工/1419 ; 整理番号: 25532 / Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第13376号 / 工博第2847号 / 新制||工||1419(附属図書館) / 25532 / UT51-2007-Q777 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市社会工学専攻 / (主査)教授 岡田 憲夫, 教授 小林 潔司, 教授 多々納 裕一 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

Significant damage and loss is experienced every year due to natural hazards such as hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, floods, wildfires, volcanoes, and earthquakes. NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI) reports that in 2016 the United States experienced more than a dozen climate disaster events with damages and loss in excess of a billion dollars (NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 2017). Identifying vulnerabilities and risk associated with disaster threats is now a major focus of natural hazards research. Natural hazards research has yielded numerous theoretical frameworks over the last 25 years that have explained important elements of risk and vulnerability in disasters (Birkmann, 2016b). However, there has been much less progress made in operationalizing these frameworks. While the theory is well established, one of the more pressing challenges before us is the lack of development of user-friendly and flexible risk assessment techniques for emergency managers (Mustafa et al., 2011). The trend in operationalizing natural hazards, theoretical frameworks has been the development of general, all-purpose, static models to measure vulnerability. However, important missing elements in the current hazards literature is the need for an operationalized risk model that is (1) simple, quick and easy to use, (2) flexible for changing conditions, and (3) site-specific for various geographic locations. Many of the current models for determining risk and vulnerability are very complex and time consuming to calculate and thus make them of little use for emergency and risk managers. In addition, little analysis has been conducted to see if a flexible risk identification measurement system could be developed. As vulnerability and risk become fluid due to changing conditions (environmental—hazard and location) and circumstances (social, economic, and political), our measurement tools need to be able to capture these differences in order to be effective. This dissertation examines whether the Pressure and Release (PAR) natural hazards, theoretical framework can be operationalized using financial risk ratio methods. Specifically, it analyzes risk ratios using key vulnerability indicators to identify escalating vulnerability and ultimately predict risk. A structured modeling approach was used to identify key vulnerability indicators and develop risk ratios. These are applied to a case study to demonstrate whether this new approach can identify emerging risk trends. My research suggests that instead of operationalizing natural hazards theoretical frameworks using the current static, aggregate index method, a flexible risk ratio method could provide a new, viable option.

Motivated by shortcomings in recent natural disaster responses; this paper reports on a computational approach that offers techniques for matching social demands of a disaster type with the strengths of cultural traits among rescue teams.

Search-and -rescue (SAR) teams spend days and sometimes weeks in the field following a disaster. After completing their assigned mission, handlers and canines return to base, potentially bringing contaminated material with them. There were 3 objectives for this study; (1) the effects of cleanser and equipment materials on the efficiency of decontamination protocols, (2) the effects of improved treatments on the efficiency of decontamination protocols and (3) the use of field kits and improved training on decontamination techniques in the field. In the first study, straps (n = 54) were cut from biothane, leather and nylon. Straps were washed with three kinds of cleansers; Dawn dishwashing detergent, Johnson and Johnson’s Head-to-toe baby wash and Simple Green. In addition, three different types of treatments: 5-minute soak (A), double 5-minute soak (B) and a 3-minute soak with a 2-minute agitation (C). In the second study, straps (n = 40) of leather and nylon were utilized. Unlike the previous study, only Dawn dishwashing detergent and Johnson and Johnson’s Head-To-Toe-Baby Wash were selected as cleansers for decontamination. In addition, improved treatments (PW or SK) were created and utilized to further decontaminant the straps. The finally part of the study utilized canine teams (n = 10), composed of canine and handlers and were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Groups were structured as follows: TRAINED (n = 5) received 30-minutes of interactive training (using the illustrated guide contained in the kit) on proper utilization of equipment provided; UNTRAINED (n = 5) received the same field kit and an illustrated guide with no interactive training. An oil-based pseudocontaminant (GloGerm®) was topically applied to the straps in the first two studies and then to four anatomic sites on the canine participants: cranial neck, between the shoulder blades, left medial hindlimb and hind left paw in the last study. Pre- and post-images were taken of the straps and at the four anatomical locations prior to and following decontamination. Images were analyzed via two methods 1) categorical scores; 2) measured fluorescent reduction. Categorical scores were assigned, using two blinded reviewers (Venable et. al., 2017). The categorical scores were allotted as follows: 0 = <24% contaminant reduction; 1 = 25-50% contaminant reduction; 2 = 51-75% contaminant reduction; and 3 = >76% contaminant reduction (Lee et al., 2014). No score discrepancies >1 were observed between reviewers. Score data were analyzed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC), as a Chi Square with PROC FREQ and measurement data were analyzed using PROC ANOVA. Results in the first study indicate that material (P = .2331), cleanser (P = .2156) and treatment (P = .9139) had no effect on contaminant reduction. However, when treatments were improved in the second study, power wash was more effective at contaminant reduction (P = .0004). In addition, material was also determined to have an effect on decontamination (P = .0135). Although, the kind of cleanser used had no effect (P = .3564). Additionally, in the last study, TRAINED handlers were more effective at contamination reduction (P = .0093) as compared to their UNTRAINED counterparts. The initial results indicate that no combination of material, cleanser or treatment had any effect on reducing the oil-based contaminants. Nevertheless, with improved treatments there is a potential to more thoroughly decontaminate the collars and leashes. In addition, study three indicates that handlers, when properly trained, can achieve reduction of oil-based contaminants with a basic field kit and a garden hose. These data have implications for management of canines in the field that may be exposed to unknown substances and require timely decontamination.

abstract: Scholars have highlighted the role of disturbance and crisis, including disasters, in enabling systemic change towards sustainability. However, there are relatively few empirical studies on how individuals and organizations are able to utilize disasters as opportunities for change towards sustainability. This dissertation addresses three questions applied to two case studies: First, what changes were pursued in the aftermath of disasters, and to what extent did these changes contribute to sustainability? Second, how were people (and their organizations) able to pursue change towards sustainability? Third, what can be learned about seeing and seizing opportunities for change towards sustainability in disaster contexts and about sustaining those introduced changes over time? The research entailed the creation of a theoretical framework, synthesizing literature from disaster studies and sustainability transition studies, to enable cross-case comparison and the appraisal of sustainability outcomes (Chapter 1). The framework was applied to two empirical case studies of post-disaster recovery: the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia (Chapter 2), and the 2010-2012 series of earthquakes in the greater Christchurch area, New Zealand (Chapter 3). The research revealed no systemic change towards sustainability in either case, although change towards sustainability was pursued in various areas, such as housing, educating, caring, and engaging in governance. Opportunities for sustainability emerged at different points following the disaster; change processes are ongoing. The sustainability changes were supported by “Sustainability Change Agents” (SCAs): people who were able to see and seize opportunities for change towards sustainability in the midst of disaster. SCAs were characterized as individuals with various attributes, starting with an ability to perceive opportunities, catalyze others to support this risk-taking endeavor, and stay in the endurance race. The study concludes with some recommendations for interventions to inform pre-disaster sustainability planning. These avenues include a toolbox and a curricular approach that would educate and enable students as future professionals to see and seize opportunities for change towards sustainability in disaster contexts (Chapter 4). / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Sustainability 2016

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / Greater capacity for cities to be disaster resilient is needed. Public-private partnership enhances municipal capacity. This study therefore, interrogates the relationship between the City of Cape Town and its disaster relief partners. It is mainly concerned with policy implementation, and as such, investigates disaster management policy implementation in relation to public-private partnerships. The objectivesof the study were to provide a conceptual framework that defines the terms eminent in the practice and study of disaster management, particularly those that characterize public-private partnerships in the City of Cape Town; to explore the legislative mandate that makes provisions for disaster management and the funding of public-private partnerships in municipalities; to document the current practice of public-private partnerships in the City of Cape Town; to highlight noted challenges in the partnership and where necessary, recommend alternative policy implementation options for enhanced partnership sustainable capacity for disaster relief. The researcher deemed it expedient to utilize the qualitative method for the purposes of the adeptness it affords in expediting malleable, arduous investigation in engaging with the phenomena that “unfold[s] in real-world situations.” As far as the findings of this study are concerned, the public-private partnership of the City of Cape Town with its disaster relief partners is a successful one. It is effective in bringing the much needed awareness and relief to devastated communities. There are four main challenges that impact on this disaster relief partnership have been realized by this study. These namely are the delays in the reimbursement process, the constant change of government personnel dealing with relief partners, absence of a disaster relief official on the sites of distress and unsubsidized expenses incurred by the relief partners. Having realized these challenges, the study makes policy implementation recommendations.

M.Ing. (Engineering Management) / Logistics management has been extensively researched and implemented in the private sector, but it is gradually gaining traction in the humanitarian sector. Most humanitarian organization operations involve a mix of many activities. Some of them are involved in disaster relief, as short-term operations carried out immediately after a disaster, while some are involved in continuous aid work aimed at restoring normalcy to the disaster ravaged society and such efforts are longer term. Humanitarian organizations, particularly Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are the primary vehicle through which donors channel their contributions, but it is unfortunate to note that many of these organizations face challenges with the logistics of effectively getting the relief aid to the intended users. The purpose of this study is to improve the understanding in humanitarian logistics (HL) and identify the key challenges affecting aid agencies during humanitarian action. The study adopts a quantitative approach; data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was used to identify the most outstanding subjects and areas of interest in line with humanitarian logistics challenges identified in the literature. The findings from the research survey shows that there is an awareness of the importance of humanitarian logistics in the sector, but the results also show that only half of the participants of the survey reported that they have a logistics professional employed in their organization. Furthermore, only 50% of the participants of the survey indicated that their organization has a preparedness plan in place in the event of an emergency. Other challenges identified are: lack of fund; difficulty to obtain real time information and poor knowledge management. The author identified unavailability and tagging of funds as the most critical challenge the humanitarian organizations face because it hinders capacity building and organizational development. The study also suggests that learning and forging closer ties with private organizations is an effective means of overcoming some of the identified challenges.