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A Survey of the Field of Natural Hazards and Disaster Studies

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Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards

Part of the book series: Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research ((NTHR,volume 5))

Abstract

The geographical and temporal patterns of disasters are first described and then considered in terms of the underpinnings and causes of human vulnerability. These include population increase, marginalization, the militarization of vulnerable societies, the politicization of aid, the accumulation of capital goods, and the dual role of technology as a source of both vulnerability and mitigation. Some of the bases of theory in hazards studies are reviewed and considered in the light of the development gap in mitigation — the wide gulf between the vulnerability of industrialized and least developed countries. The phenomenon of disaster is considered theoretically in terms of its fundamental dimensions: time, space, magnitude and intensity. Finally, the various disciplinary contributions to disaster studies are assessed and compared. Reasons are given for practitioners’ reluctance to undertake interdisciplinary work.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Geography, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA

    David E. Alexander

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  1. David E. Alexander
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council, Center of Study on Man-Computer Interaction, Bologna, Italy

    Alberto Carrara

  2. National Research Council, Institute of Research for Hydrogeological Protection, Perugia, Italy

    Fausto Guzzetti

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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Alexander, D.E. (1995). A Survey of the Field of Natural Hazards and Disaster Studies. In: Carrara, A., Guzzetti, F. (eds) Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards. Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8404-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8404-3_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4561-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-8404-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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