A Participatory Process to Develop a Landslide Warning System: Paradoxes of Responsibility Sharing in a Case Study in Upper Austria
During a participatory process in Gmunden, Austria, the organizational and responsibility-sharing arrangements for a landslide warning system proved to be contested issues. While questions on the warning system technology and the distribution of information, including the alarm for evacuation, could...
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MDPI AG
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Resources |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/6/4/54 |
| _version_ | 1811308016299933696 |
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| author | Philipp Preuner Anna Scolobig JoAnne Linnerooth Bayer David Ottowitz Stefan Hoyer Birgit Jochum |
| author_facet | Philipp Preuner Anna Scolobig JoAnne Linnerooth Bayer David Ottowitz Stefan Hoyer Birgit Jochum |
| author_sort | Philipp Preuner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During a participatory process in Gmunden, Austria, the organizational and responsibility-sharing arrangements for a landslide warning system proved to be contested issues. While questions on the warning system technology and the distribution of information, including the alarm for evacuation, could be resolved with the support of experts, controversies arose on the financial and legal responsibilities that ensure long-term and effective monitoring for the protection of the landslide-prone community. This paper examines how responsibilities can be shared among the residents, experts, and public authorities during the design and operation of landslide warning systems. In particular, we discuss the outcome and implications of three stakeholder workshops where participants deliberated on warning-system options that, in turn, were based on a discourse analysis of extensive stakeholder interviews. The results of the case study show that an end-user orientation requires the consideration of stakeholder worldviews, interests, and conflicts. Paradoxically, the public did not fully support their own involvement in the maintenance and control of the warning system, but the authorities promoted shared responsibility. Deliberative planning does not then necessarily lead to responsibility sharing, but it proved effective as a platform for information and for shared ownership in the warning system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:15:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7476cff0f45f42aca9a6337c6973da63 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-9276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:15:27Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Resources |
| spelling | doaj.art-7476cff0f45f42aca9a6337c6973da632022-12-22T02:52:45ZengMDPI AGResources2079-92762017-10-01645410.3390/resources6040054resources6040054A Participatory Process to Develop a Landslide Warning System: Paradoxes of Responsibility Sharing in a Case Study in Upper AustriaPhilipp Preuner0Anna Scolobig1JoAnne Linnerooth Bayer2David Ottowitz3Stefan Hoyer4Birgit Jochum5Risk and Resilience Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), 2361 Laxenburg, AustriaClimate Policy Group, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), 8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandRisk and Resilience Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), 2361 Laxenburg, AustriaDepartment of Geophysics, Geological Survey of Austria (GSA), 1030 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Geophysics, Geological Survey of Austria (GSA), 1030 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Geophysics, Geological Survey of Austria (GSA), 1030 Vienna, AustriaDuring a participatory process in Gmunden, Austria, the organizational and responsibility-sharing arrangements for a landslide warning system proved to be contested issues. While questions on the warning system technology and the distribution of information, including the alarm for evacuation, could be resolved with the support of experts, controversies arose on the financial and legal responsibilities that ensure long-term and effective monitoring for the protection of the landslide-prone community. This paper examines how responsibilities can be shared among the residents, experts, and public authorities during the design and operation of landslide warning systems. In particular, we discuss the outcome and implications of three stakeholder workshops where participants deliberated on warning-system options that, in turn, were based on a discourse analysis of extensive stakeholder interviews. The results of the case study show that an end-user orientation requires the consideration of stakeholder worldviews, interests, and conflicts. Paradoxically, the public did not fully support their own involvement in the maintenance and control of the warning system, but the authorities promoted shared responsibility. Deliberative planning does not then necessarily lead to responsibility sharing, but it proved effective as a platform for information and for shared ownership in the warning system.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/6/4/54warning systemlandslide risktechnical-policy optionresponsibility sharingpublic participationstakeholder perspectiveswarning communication and decision making |
| spellingShingle | Philipp Preuner Anna Scolobig JoAnne Linnerooth Bayer David Ottowitz Stefan Hoyer Birgit Jochum A Participatory Process to Develop a Landslide Warning System: Paradoxes of Responsibility Sharing in a Case Study in Upper Austria Resources warning system landslide risk technical-policy option responsibility sharing public participation stakeholder perspectives warning communication and decision making |
| title | A Participatory Process to Develop a Landslide Warning System: Paradoxes of Responsibility Sharing in a Case Study in Upper Austria |
| title_full | A Participatory Process to Develop a Landslide Warning System: Paradoxes of Responsibility Sharing in a Case Study in Upper Austria |
| title_fullStr | A Participatory Process to Develop a Landslide Warning System: Paradoxes of Responsibility Sharing in a Case Study in Upper Austria |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Participatory Process to Develop a Landslide Warning System: Paradoxes of Responsibility Sharing in a Case Study in Upper Austria |
| title_short | A Participatory Process to Develop a Landslide Warning System: Paradoxes of Responsibility Sharing in a Case Study in Upper Austria |
| title_sort | participatory process to develop a landslide warning system paradoxes of responsibility sharing in a case study in upper austria |
| topic | warning system landslide risk technical-policy option responsibility sharing public participation stakeholder perspectives warning communication and decision making |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/6/4/54 |
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