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A quantitative vulnerability function for fluvial sediment transport

Author

Listed:
  • Reinhold Totschnig
  • Walter Sedlacek
  • Sven Fuchs

Abstract

In quantitative risk assessment, risk is expressed as a function of hazard, elements at risk exposed, and vulnerability. Vulnerability is defined as the expected degree of loss for an element at risk as a consequence of a certain event, following a natural-scientific approach combined with economic methods of loss appraisal. The resulting value ranges from 0 (no damage) to 1 (complete destruction). With respect to torrent processes, i.e., fluvial sediment transport, this concept of vulnerability—though widely acknowledged—did not result in sound quantitative relationships between process intensities and associated degrees of loss so far, even if considerable loss occurred during recent years. To close this gap and establish this relationship, data from three well-documented torrent events in the Austrian Alps were used to derive a quantitative vulnerability function applicable to residential buildings located on torrent fans. The method applied followed a spatially explicit empirical approach within a GIS environment and was based on process intensities, the spatial characteristics of elements at risk, and average reconstruction values on a local scale. Additionally, loss data were collected from responsible administrative bodies and analysed on an object level. The results suggest a modified Weibull distribution to fit best to the observed damage pattern if intensity is quantified in absolute values, and a modified Frechet distribution if intensity is quantified relatively in relation to the individual building height. Additionally, uncertainties resulting from such an empirical approach were studied; in relation to the data quality a 90% confidence band was found to represent the data range appropriately. The vulnerability relationship obtained allows for an enhanced quantification of torrent risk, but also for an inclusion in comprehensive vulnerability models including physical, social, economic, and institutional vulnerability. As a result, vulnerability to mountain hazards might decrease in the future. Copyright The Author(s) 2011

Suggested Citation

  • Reinhold Totschnig & Walter Sedlacek & Sven Fuchs, 2011. "A quantitative vulnerability function for fluvial sediment transport," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 58(2), pages 681-703, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:58:y:2011:i:2:p:681-703
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-010-9623-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sven Fuchs & Michael Bründl, 2005. "Damage Potential and Losses Resulting from Snow Avalanches in Settlements of the Canton of Grisons, Switzerland," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 34(1), pages 53-69, January.
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    1. Qigen Lin & Ying Wang & Tianxue Liu & Yingqi Zhu & Qi Sui, 2017. "The Vulnerability of People to Landslides: A Case Study on the Relationship between the Casualties and Volume of Landslides in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-12, February.
    2. María Bermúdez & Andreas Paul Zischg, 2018. "Sensitivity of flood loss estimates to building representation and flow depth attribution methods in micro-scale flood modelling," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 92(3), pages 1633-1648, July.
    3. C. Promper & T. Glade, 2016. "Multilayer-exposure maps as a basis for a regional vulnerability assessment for landslides: applied in Waidhofen/Ybbs, Austria," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 82(1), pages 111-127, May.
    4. Otar Varazanashvili & Nino Tsereteli & Avtandil Amiranashvili & Emil Tsereteli & Elizbar Elizbarashvili & Jemal Dolidze & Lado Qaldani & Manana Saluqvadze & Shota Adamia & Nika Arevadze & Aleksandre G, 2012. "Vulnerability, hazards and multiple risk assessment for Georgia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 64(3), pages 2021-2056, December.
    5. Romane Bouchard & Djordje Romanic, 2023. "Monte Carlo modeling of tornado hazard to wind turbines in Germany," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(3), pages 3899-3923, April.
    6. Wen-Chun Lo & Ting-Chi Tsao & Chih-Hao Hsu, 2012. "Building vulnerability to debris flows in Taiwan: a preliminary study," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 64(3), pages 2107-2128, December.
    7. Stefan Kienberger & Thomas Blaschke & Rukhe Zaidi, 2013. "A framework for spatio-temporal scales and concepts from different disciplines: the ‘vulnerability cube’," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 68(3), pages 1343-1369, September.
    8. R. L. Ciurean & H. Hussin & C. J. Westen & M. Jaboyedoff & P. Nicolet & L. Chen & S. Frigerio & T. Glade, 2017. "Multi-scale debris flow vulnerability assessment and direct loss estimation of buildings in the Eastern Italian Alps," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 85(2), pages 929-957, January.
    9. Aditi Singh & D. P. Kanungo & Shilpa Pal, 2019. "Physical vulnerability assessment of buildings exposed to landslides in India," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 96(2), pages 753-790, March.
    10. K. Graff & C. Lissak & Y. Thiery & O. Maquaire & S. Costa & B. Laignel, 2019. "Analysis and quantification of potential consequences in multirisk coastal context at different spatial scales (Normandy, France)," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 99(2), pages 637-664, November.
    11. Sven Fuchs & Christine Ornetsmüller & Reinhold Totschnig, 2012. "Spatial scan statistics in vulnerability assessment: an application to mountain hazards," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 64(3), pages 2129-2151, December.
    12. Konstantinos Karagiorgos & Micha Heiser & Thomas Thaler & Johannes Hübl & Sven Fuchs, 2016. "Micro-sized enterprises: vulnerability to flash floods," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 84(2), pages 1091-1107, November.
    13. Christoph Rheinberger & Hans E. Romang & Michael Bründl, 2013. "Proportional loss functions for debris flow events," Post-Print hal-02643847, HAL.
    14. Hualin Cheng & Zhiyi Chen & Yu Huang, 2022. "Quantitative physical model of vulnerability of buildings to urban flow slides in construction solid waste landfills: a case study of the 2015 Shenzhen flow slide," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 112(2), pages 1567-1587, June.
    15. Țîncu, Roxana & Zêzere, José Luis & Crăciun, Iulia & Lazăr, Gabriel & Lazăr, Iuliana, 2020. "Quantitative micro-scale flood risk assessment in a section of the Trotuș River, Romania," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    16. M. Papathoma-Köhle & M. Keiler & R. Totschnig & T. Glade, 2012. "Improvement of vulnerability curves using data from extreme events: debris flow event in South Tyrol," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 64(3), pages 2083-2105, December.
    17. Casey Dowling & Paul Santi, 2014. "Debris flows and their toll on human life: a global analysis of debris-flow fatalities from 1950 to 2011," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 71(1), pages 203-227, March.
    18. Sven Fuchs & Margreth Keiler & Sergey Sokratov & Alexander Shnyparkov, 2013. "Spatiotemporal dynamics: the need for an innovative approach in mountain hazard risk management," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 68(3), pages 1217-1241, September.
    19. Sven Fuchs & Jörn Birkmann & Thomas Glade, 2012. "Vulnerability assessment in natural hazard and risk analysis: current approaches and future challenges," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 64(3), pages 1969-1975, December.
    20. M. Jakob & D. Stein & M. Ulmi, 2012. "Vulnerability of buildings to debris flow impact," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 60(2), pages 241-261, January.
    21. Mudassir Ali Khan & Zahiraniza Mustaffa & Indra Sati Hamonangan Harahap & Muhammad Bello Ibrahim & Mohamed Ezzat Al-Atroush, 2022. "Assessment of Physical Vulnerability and Uncertainties for Debris Flow Hazard: A Review concerning Climate Change," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-22, December.

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