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The need for data: natural disasters and the challenges of database management

Author

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  • Angelika Wirtz
  • Wolfgang Kron
  • Petra Löw
  • Markus Steuer

Abstract

Hundreds of natural catastrophes occur worldwide every year—there were 780 loss events per year on average over the last 10 years. Since 1980, these disasters have claimed over two million lives and caused losses worth US$ 3,000 billion. The deadliest disasters were caused by earthquakes: the tsunami following the Sumatra quake (2004) and the Haiti earthquake (2010) claimed more than 220,000 lives each. The Great East Japan Earthquake of 11 March 2011 was the costliest natural disaster of all times, with total losses of US$ 210 billion. Hurricane Katrina, in 2005, was the second costliest disaster, with total losses of US$ 140 billion (in 2010 values). To ensure that high-quality natural disaster analyses can be performed, the data have to be collected, checked and managed with a high degree of expertise and professionality. Scientists, governmental and non-governmental organisations and the finance industry make use of global databases that contain losses attributable to natural catastrophes. At present, there are three global and multi-peril loss databases: NatCatSERVICE (Munich Re), Sigma (Swiss Re) and EM-Dat (Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters). They are supplemented by numerous databases focusing on national or regional issues, certain hazards and specific sectors. This paper outlines the criteria and definitions relating to how global and multi-peril databases are operated, and the efforts being made to ensure consistent and internationally recognised standards of data management. In addition, it presents the concept and methodology underlying the NatCatSERVICE database, and points out the many challenges associated with data acquisition and data management. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Angelika Wirtz & Wolfgang Kron & Petra Löw & Markus Steuer, 2014. "The need for data: natural disasters and the challenges of database 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. 70(1), pages 135-157, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:70:y:2014:i:1:p:135-157
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-012-0312-4
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Laura A. Bakkensen & Xiangying Shi & Brianna D. Zurita, 2018. "The Impact of Disaster Data on Estimating Damage Determinants and Climate Costs," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 49-71, April.
    2. Chad S. Boda & Turaj Faran & Murray Scown & Kelly Dorkenoo & Brian C. Chaffin & Maryam Nastar & Emily Boyd, 2021. "Loss and damage from climate change and implicit assumptions of sustainable development," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 164(1), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Noy, Ilan, 2015. "A non-monetary global measure of the direct impact of natural disasters," Working Paper Series 4193, Victoria University of Wellington, School of Economics and Finance.
    4. Young Seok Song & Moo Jong Park & Jung Ho Lee & Byung Sik Kim & Yang Ho Song, 2020. "Improvement Measure of Integrated Disaster Management System Considering Disaster Damage Characteristics: Focusing on the Republic of Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Alex Coletti & Antonio De Nicola & Maria Luisa Villani, 2016. "Building climate change into risk assessments," 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 1307-1325, November.
    6. Xavier Romão & Esmeralda Paupério, 2016. "A framework to assess quality and uncertainty in disaster loss data," 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. 83(2), pages 1077-1102, September.
    7. Xiang Zheng & Chuyao Feng & Mikio Ishiwatari, 2022. "Examining the Indirect Death Surveillance System of The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, September.
    8. Mieko Kumasaki & Malcolm King & Mitsuru Arai & Lili Yang, 2016. "Anatomy of cascading natural disasters in Japan: main modes and linkages," 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. 80(3), pages 1425-1441, February.
    9. Stefano Clò & Francesco David & Samuele Segoni, 2024. "The impact of hydrogeological events on firms: evidence from Italy," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1451, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    10. Mieko Kumasaki & Malcolm King & Mitsuru Arai & Lili Yang, 2016. "Anatomy of cascading natural disasters in Japan: main modes and linkages," 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. 80(3), pages 1425-1441, February.
    11. Breckner, Miriam & Englmaier, Florian & Stowasser, Till & Sunde, Uwe, 2016. "Economic Development and Resilience to Natural Catastrophes – Insurance Penetration and Institutions," VfS Annual Conference 2016 (Augsburg): Demographic Change 145501, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    12. Sidney Michelini & Barbora Šedová & Jacob Schewe & Katja Frieler, 2023. "Extreme weather impacts do not improve conflict predictions in Africa," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    13. Saeed Alqadhi & Javed Mallick & Swapan Talukdar & Mohd. Ahmed & Roohul Abad Khan & Showmitra Kumar Sarkar & Atiqur Rahman, 2022. "Assessing the effect of future landslide on ecosystem services in Aqabat Al-Sulbat region, Saudi Arabia," 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. 113(1), pages 641-671, August.
    14. Laurien , Finn & Keating, Adriana, 2019. "Evidence from Measuring Community Flood Resilience in Asia," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 595, Asian Development Bank.
    15. Weixiao Han & Chen Liang & Baofa Jiang & Wei Ma & Ying Zhang, 2016. "Major Natural Disasters in China, 1985–2014: Occurrence and Damages," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, November.
    16. Breckner, Miriam & Englmaier, Florian & Stowasser, Till & Sunde, Uwe, 2016. "Resilience to natural disasters — Insurance penetration, institutions, and disaster types," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 106-110.
    17. M. Amparo Núñez-Andrés & Nieves Lantada Zarzosa & José Martínez-Llario, 2022. "Spatial data infrastructure (SDI) for inventory rockfalls with fragmentation information," 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(3), pages 2649-2672, July.
    18. Petra Tschakert & Jon Barnett & Neville Ellis & Carmen Lawrence & Nancy Tuana & Mark New & Carmen Elrick‐Barr & Ram Pandit & David Pannell, 2017. "Climate change and loss, as if people mattered: values, places, and experiences," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 8(5), September.
    19. Noy, Ilan, 2015. "A non-monetary global measure of the direct impact of natural disasters," Working Paper Series 19262, Victoria University of Wellington, School of Economics and Finance.
    20. Béla Vizvári & Mahmoud Golabi & Arman Nedjati & Ferhat Gümüşbuğa & Gokhan Izbirak, 2019. "Top-down approach to design the relief system in a metropolitan city using UAV technology, part I: the first 48 h," 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(1), pages 571-597, October.
    21. Ilan Noy, 2016. "A Global Comprehensive Measure of the Impact of Natural Hazards and Disasters," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 7(1), pages 56-65, February.

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