The Role of Built Environment's Physical Urban Form in Supporting Rapid Tsunami Evacuations: Using Computer-Based Models and Real-World Data as Examination Tools
Cities are increasingly becoming hot-spots for nature-originated disasters. While the role of the urban built environment in fostering disaster resilience has been recognized for some time, it has been difficult to translate this potential into practice. This is especially challenging in the case of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Built Environment |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbuil.2018.00089/full |
| _version_ | 1819017002078961664 |
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| author | Jorge León Jorge León Cyril Mokrani Patricio Catalán Patricio Catalán Patricio Catalán Rodrigo Cienfuegos Rodrigo Cienfuegos Carolina Femenías |
| author_facet | Jorge León Jorge León Cyril Mokrani Patricio Catalán Patricio Catalán Patricio Catalán Rodrigo Cienfuegos Rodrigo Cienfuegos Carolina Femenías |
| author_sort | Jorge León |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cities are increasingly becoming hot-spots for nature-originated disasters. While the role of the urban built environment in fostering disaster resilience has been recognized for some time, it has been difficult to translate this potential into practice. This is especially challenging in the case of rapid onset crises such as near-field tsunamis when appropriate urban forms must support the populations' ability to autonomously carry out safe and timely responses. In this respect, much of current research remains focused on large-scale elements of urban configuration (streets, squares, parks, etc.,) through which people move during an emergency. In contrast, the critical micro-scale of evacuees' experiences within the built environment is not commonly examined. This paper addresses this shortfall through a macro- and micro-scale analysis of a near-field tsunami scenario affecting the city of Viña del Mar, Chile, including a mixed-methods approach that combines computer-based models and fieldwork. The results show significant macro-scale tsunami vulnerability throughout major areas of the city, which nonetheless could be mitigated by existing nearby high ground and an urban form that allows short evacuation times. However, micro-scale outcomes show comparatively deficient spatial conditions that during an emergency might lead to dangerous outcomes including bottlenecks, falls and panic. Vertical evacuation, in turn, is confirmed as a suitable option for reducing vulnerability, but further examination of each shelter's characteristics is required. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:56:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc9f8fd7cc3442ae88e6db346e96198b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-3362 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:56:35Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Built Environment |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc9f8fd7cc3442ae88e6db346e96198b2022-12-21T19:18:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Built Environment2297-33622019-01-01410.3389/fbuil.2018.00089415688The Role of Built Environment's Physical Urban Form in Supporting Rapid Tsunami Evacuations: Using Computer-Based Models and Real-World Data as Examination ToolsJorge León0Jorge León1Cyril Mokrani2Patricio Catalán3Patricio Catalán4Patricio Catalán5Rodrigo Cienfuegos6Rodrigo Cienfuegos7Carolina Femenías8Research Center for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (CIGIDEN), Santiago, ChileDepartment of Architecture, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, ChileMarine Energy Research & Innovation Center (MERIC), INRIA, Santiago, ChileResearch Center for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (CIGIDEN), Santiago, ChileCivil Engineering Department, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, ChileScientific and Technological Center, Valparaíso, ChileResearch Center for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (CIGIDEN), Santiago, ChileHydraulic and Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, ChileCivil Engineering Department, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, ChileCities are increasingly becoming hot-spots for nature-originated disasters. While the role of the urban built environment in fostering disaster resilience has been recognized for some time, it has been difficult to translate this potential into practice. This is especially challenging in the case of rapid onset crises such as near-field tsunamis when appropriate urban forms must support the populations' ability to autonomously carry out safe and timely responses. In this respect, much of current research remains focused on large-scale elements of urban configuration (streets, squares, parks, etc.,) through which people move during an emergency. In contrast, the critical micro-scale of evacuees' experiences within the built environment is not commonly examined. This paper addresses this shortfall through a macro- and micro-scale analysis of a near-field tsunami scenario affecting the city of Viña del Mar, Chile, including a mixed-methods approach that combines computer-based models and fieldwork. The results show significant macro-scale tsunami vulnerability throughout major areas of the city, which nonetheless could be mitigated by existing nearby high ground and an urban form that allows short evacuation times. However, micro-scale outcomes show comparatively deficient spatial conditions that during an emergency might lead to dangerous outcomes including bottlenecks, falls and panic. Vertical evacuation, in turn, is confirmed as a suitable option for reducing vulnerability, but further examination of each shelter's characteristics is required.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbuil.2018.00089/fulltsunamiurban formevacuationdisastersChile |
| spellingShingle | Jorge León Jorge León Cyril Mokrani Patricio Catalán Patricio Catalán Patricio Catalán Rodrigo Cienfuegos Rodrigo Cienfuegos Carolina Femenías The Role of Built Environment's Physical Urban Form in Supporting Rapid Tsunami Evacuations: Using Computer-Based Models and Real-World Data as Examination Tools Frontiers in Built Environment tsunami urban form evacuation disasters Chile |
| title | The Role of Built Environment's Physical Urban Form in Supporting Rapid Tsunami Evacuations: Using Computer-Based Models and Real-World Data as Examination Tools |
| title_full | The Role of Built Environment's Physical Urban Form in Supporting Rapid Tsunami Evacuations: Using Computer-Based Models and Real-World Data as Examination Tools |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Built Environment's Physical Urban Form in Supporting Rapid Tsunami Evacuations: Using Computer-Based Models and Real-World Data as Examination Tools |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Built Environment's Physical Urban Form in Supporting Rapid Tsunami Evacuations: Using Computer-Based Models and Real-World Data as Examination Tools |
| title_short | The Role of Built Environment's Physical Urban Form in Supporting Rapid Tsunami Evacuations: Using Computer-Based Models and Real-World Data as Examination Tools |
| title_sort | role of built environment s physical urban form in supporting rapid tsunami evacuations using computer based models and real world data as examination tools |
| topic | tsunami urban form evacuation disasters Chile |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbuil.2018.00089/full |
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