Disaster Risk Reduction For The Built Environment

This book examines multi-hazard and threat adaptation issues from a construction sector perspective whilst also considering the non-structural elements of multi-hazard/threat adaptation. The content encompasses international contexts, natural hazards (i.e. hydro-meteorological and geological) and human-induced threats (i.e. terrorism and unregulated urban planning) and multi-disciplinary perspectives, therefore making the book a unique multi-facetted collection of how a broad range of risk reduction options can be mainstreamed into the construction decision making process. This text book will be essential reading for a wide range of undergraduate and post-graduate students (and potentially managers and practitioners) involved with the way buildings and infrastructure are planned, designed, built, managed and operated. The range of issues covered by this book not only demonstrate the trans-disciplinary nature of the subject but illustrates that non-structural as well as structural adaptations need to be considered to reduce the threat, and impact, of disasters and that lessons can be identified from a range of disciplines and socio-cultural contexts.

About the Authors

Lee Bosher, School of Civil & Building Engineering, Loughborough University Senior Lecturer in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) who has been based within the School of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough University since 2005. Lee has a background in disaster risk management and his research and teaching includes disaster risk reduction and the multi-disciplinary integration of proactive hazard mitigation strategies into the decision-making processes of key stakeholders, particularly stakeholders from the construction industry. He is coordinator of the International Council for Building (CIB)’s Working Commission W120 on ‘Disasters and the Built Environment’, has undertaken consultancy work on DRR matters for the United Nations and has been an invited speaker at conferences in USA, UK, Iran, Israel and Pakistan.

Ksenia Chmutina, School of Civil & Building Engineering, Loughborough University Research Associate who has been based within the School of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough University since 2011. Ksenia has a background in sustainability and her research includes synergies of resilience and sustainability in the built environment and resilience of small developing island states. Other research interests are related to the stakeholders’ engagement in disaster risk reduction activities, policy environment for the DRR, as well as energy efficiency, decentralised energy and energy policy.