02 Fakultät Bau- und Umweltingenieurwissenschaften
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://elib.uni-stuttgart.de/handle/11682/3
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Item Open Access Adaptation after extreme flooding events : moving or staying? The case of the Ahr Valley in Germany(2023) Truedinger, Alessa Jasmin; Jamshed, Ali; Sauter, Holger; Birkmann, JoernMore than 130 lives were lost in the 2021 heavy precipitation and flood event in the Ahr Valley, Germany, where large parts of the valley were destroyed. Afterwards, public funding of about 15 billion Euros has been made available for reconstruction. However, with people and settlements being in highly exposed zones, the core question that is not sufficiently addressed is whether affected people want to rebuild in the same place, or rather opt to move out. The paper explores this question and assesses motivations and reasons for moving or staying in the Ahr Valley. For this purpose, a household survey was conducted focusing on 516 flood-affected households. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that the ownership of the house or flat significantly influenced the decision of whether to stay or to leave. In addition, an attachment to the place and the belief that such extreme events occur very rarely influenced the decision to stay and rebuild. Age, gender and household income barely influenced the decision to stay or to move to a new place. Interestingly, results demonstrated that many respondents view settlement retreat and the relocation of critical infrastructures as important options to reduce risk, however, many still rebuild in the same place. These insights enable local policy and practice to better address the needs of the population in terms of whether to stay or move after such an extreme disaster.Item Open Access Linkages between typologies of existing urban development patterns and human vulnerability to heat stress in Lahore(2022) Iqbal, Nimra; Ravan, Marvin; Jamshed, Ali; Birkmann, Joern; Somarakis, Giorgos; Mitraka, Zina; Chrysoulakis, NektariosThe combined effects of global warming, urbanization, and demographic change influence climate risk for urban populations, particularly in metropolitan areas with developing economies. To inform climate change adaptation and spatial planning, it is important to study urban climatic hazards and populations at risk in relation to urban growth trends and development patterns. However, this relationship has not been adequately investigated in studies dedicated to climate vulnerability. This study identifies the typologies of development patterns within Lahore, Pakistan, investigates the heat vulnerability of residents at a neighborhood scale, and establishes a relationship between both of these factors. We identified urban clusters with diverse development patterns. Fourteen context- and site-specific indicators were selected to construct a human heat vulnerability index. Weighted sum, cluster analysis, and ANOVA test of variance were conducted to analyze the data. Our results demonstrate that development patterns significantly influence human vulnerability to heat stress, e.g., vulnerability is higher in older cities and undeveloped neighborhoods with less diverse land uses. These findings are essential for informing policy-makers, decision-makers and spatial planners about proactive adaptation planning in dynamic urban environments.Item Open Access Spatial planning and systems thinking tools for climate risk reduction : a case study of the Andaman Coast, Thailand(2022) McMillan, Joanna M.; Birkmann, Joern; Tangwanichagapong, Siwaporn; Jamshed, AliThe impact of climate change and related hazards such as floods, heatwaves, and sea level rise on human lives, cities, and their hinterlands depends not only on the nature of the hazard, but also on urban development, adaptation, and other socioeconomic processes that determine vulnerability and exposure. Spatial planning can reduce climate risk not just by influencing the exposure, but also by addressing social vulnerability. This requires that relevant information is available to planners and that plans are implemented and coordinated between sectors. This article is based on a research project in Thailand, particularly on the results of multi-sectoral workshops in the case study region of the Andaman Coast in southern Thailand, and draws upon climate risk, spatial planning, and systems thinking discourses. The article formulates recommendations for planning in the context of Thailand that are relevant for other rapidly growing and urbanizing regions. Among other conclusions, it suggests that systems thinking approaches and cross-sectoral strategies are ways to grasp the interdependencies between and within climate risk and spatial development challenges.Item Open Access Assessing dynamics of rural-urban linkages and their influence on rural vulnerability to extreme flood events : case study of three rural farming communities in Punjab, Pakistan(2021) Jamshed, Ali; Birkmann, Jörn (Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil.)Although rural areas and cities are intrinsically linked, the vulnerability of rural households and communities to hazards or extreme weather and climatic events is often assessed without considering their relationships to cities. These linkages are important due to interdependencies between rural and urban areas for socio-economic and physical growth. Moreover, extreme events can lead to dramatic shifts in societal processes, disrupt rural-urban linkages, and affect rural vulnerability; these matters need to be investigated. Considering these gaps in knowledge, this study aims to conceptualise and understand rural vulnerability with respect to the dynamics of rural-urban linkages in the case of flooding, with a special focus on spatial factors like city size and proximity to the city. To do so, a mixed methods approach was adopted in this research. Still, the present study is largely based on quantitative techniques. First, the current literature on rural-urban linkages, vulnerability and factors that influence them was critically reviewed, and a unified framework was proposed to connect the elements of rural-urban linkages and flood vulnerability. The framework was designed to examine changes in rural-urban linkages and the subsequent impact on rural vulnerability to flooding. For empirical research, three case studies (Darya Khan, Muzaffargarh, and Multan) were selected in the Punjab province of Pakistan. A multistage, mixed methods sampling approach was applied to derive 325 samples. Secondary data, observations and a focus group discussion deepened understanding of the topic. The household survey, using a structured questionnaire, was administered to collect information from the required sample, comprised of a flood-affected rural population surrounding three different-sized cities and at varied proximity. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency analysis, cross-tabulation) and inferential statistics (correlation, regression, chi-square, the Mann-Witney U test). Moreover, an index-based approach was developed to obtain the composite values of the three components of vulnerability: (1) exposure, (2) susceptibility and (3) capacity. The findings show that flooding severely affects rural households both directly and indirectly. The ramifications have led to several changes among rural households; most notably, they have modified how they earn a living and their relationship with the nearest major city. Floods have shifted the flow of people, information, finances, goods, and services between rural and urban areas. The research indicates that rural-urban linkages are altered in that flooding both increases and decreases rural households’ dependence on cities in different ways. These outcomes are largely driven by socio-economic, spatial, and flood-related factors. In terms of vulnerability, first, the findings signal that rural populations surrounding smaller cities are less exposed, but more vulnerable, as compared to rural households that surround larger cities. This is because rural populations adjoining larger cities are better able to deal with flood hazards due to stronger linkages. Secondly, the results confirmed that distance to the city influences the vulnerability of surrounding farming households. Rural farming households located close to cities are less vulnerable, mainly due to a better transfer of services and facilities from cities, which has made such households more educated, informed, financially strong and more closely connected, with easier access to public and private institutions. Thus, city size and proximity to the city modify linkages that further impact the flood vulnerability of the rural population. Lastly, changes in linkages made by rural households following a flood influence their overall vulnerability differently; increasing linkages with the city after a flood reduce their vulnerability, while decreasing linkages with the city exacerbate it. These changes in linkages are used to adapt to future floods and affect rural households’ vulnerability both positively and negatively. Hence, the dynamics of linkages and rural households’ exchanges with cities are crucial to reducing their vulnerability to future flood hazards. This study paves the way for regional planners and disaster managers to establish synergies between them for devising integrated flood management and development strategies that strengthen linkages, mitigate disparities and curtail vulnerability.Item Open Access A conceptual framework to understand the dynamics of rural-urban linkages for rural flood vulnerability(2020) Jamshed, Ali; Birkmann, Joern; Feldmeyer, Daniel; Rana, Irfan AhmadRural areas are highly vulnerable to floods due to limited social, economic, and physical resources. Understanding rural vulnerability is vital for developing effective disaster risk reduction strategies. Even though rural areas and cities are intrinsically linked, rural vulnerability was assessed without considering its relation to cities. Numerous theoretical frameworks on systemizing and assessing vulnerability were developed with varying level of scope and depth in terms of scale, dimensions, and components. Nevertheless, these frameworks did not explicitly mention the impact of flood or other hazards on the linkages between spatial units i.e., rural and urban. This study aims to understand and conceptualize the rural vulnerability with respect to the dynamics of rural-urban linkages in the case of flood events. To do so, current literature on rural-urban linkages, vulnerability, as well as factors that influence them were critically reviewed. Taking into account the main elements of rural-urban linkages (flow of people, information, finances, goods and services), components of vulnerability (exposure, susceptibility, and capacity), and factors (social, economic, institutional, infrastructural, spatial, and environmental), a unified framework is proposed. The framework underscores that the role of rural-urban linkages is essential to fully understand rural flood vulnerability. Moreover, the framework highlights the role of spatial factors-city size and proximity to the city-as crucial to comprehend rural vulnerability. This framework can be used as a tool for understanding multifaceted rural vulnerability for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction considering spatial development perspective. In this context, empirical investigations can be made to validate the proposed framework and policies can be introduced accordingly. Overall, the proposed framework can help recognize concepts and links of vulnerability, rural–urban dependencies, and rural development dynamics.Item Open Access Assessing vulnerability and capacity of flood affected communities in Punjab, Pakistan : case study: district Jhang and Muzaffargarh(2015) Jamshed, AliIn Punjab, the continuous floods in the last six years especially in 2010 and 2014, due to climatic and non-climatic reasons, have exposed physical, socio-economic, and environmental vulnerabilities. The flood disaster management in Punjab is primarily focused on rescue, relief, and dependence of structural measures. The assessment of vulnerability is limited to district level (in form of mapping) which is incapable of identifying essential socio-economic drivers of vulnerability and local ability to cope and adapt. The mega flood of 2010 inflicted several changes in government structure and within communities. This research study assessed the vulnerability and capacity of flood affected communities as well as fluctuation in their vulnerability and capacity by analyzing planned and unplanned post flood responses. The study also determined the role of spatial planning in reducing flood vulnerabilities. To conduct the study, a vulnerability assessment framework was modified from sustainable livelihood and BBC framework. Qualitative and quantitative analysis and their triangulation were conducted to apprehend the pertaining issues. Interviews with officials of disaster management and spatial planning institutes were conducted to analyze changes after 2010 flood and government interventions. Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) for two flood events (2010 and 2014) and household survey provided the vulnerability and capacity assessment of four flood affected communities in two severely affected districts (Jhang and Muzaffargarh) of Punjab. The results indicated that government interventions were limited to financial aid and early warning. These measures remained victim to political biasness, mismanagement, and lack of coordination and communication between departments. Other formal changes (legislation, policies, plans etc.) seemed to be less effective due to top-down approach, lack of technical man power; disaster management knowledge and financial constraints. Spatial planning appeared ineffective in mitigating flood risk as it was limited to urban areas and deficient incorporation of DRR measures in development plans. The results of PRA and household survey indicated that vulnerability of immovable assets increased or remained the same after 2014 flood disaster, but reduced significantly for moveable assets. Complex relationships existed within and between various dimensions of vulnerability that fluctuated vulnerability of related elements and factors. These relationships demonstrated that lack of physical infrastructure and awareness were the key drivers of vulnerability in Punjab.