Understanding the interacting factors that influence social vulnerability

A case study of the 2016 central Italy earthquake

Bibliographic Data

ID4875794
AuthorsI Frigerio (0000-0001-6644-2918, University of Milano-Bicocca, corresponding author), Francesca Zanini (Graduate Student in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Italy), Matteo Mattavelli (Research Fellow in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Italy), Mattia De Amicis (0000-0002-3677-9189, Researcher and an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Italy)
Year2019
Volume43
Issue4
Pages867-890
Publication date2019-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDisasters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0361-3666 • E-ISSN: 1467-7717
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/disa.12403
PMID31432546
OpenAlexW2969426110
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited28

This paper seeks to identify those areas that proved socially vulnerable to the earthquake that struck central Italy on 24 August 2016. The study involved four key steps. First, six relevant social vulnerability indicators were selected, based on previous conclusions in the literature. Second, the indicators were mapped using the inverse distance weighted interpolation method. Third, social vulnerability was assessed according to a spatial combination of the indicators. Fourth, in order to build a heterogeneity map, another approach was employed to represent the spatial variability of social vulnerability and to provide additional information on the synergistic contributions of the indicators. The results indicate that age and accessibility indicators affect the entire region under review, with highly vulnerable zones being close to small historical centres. These findings will be useful to governments, policymakers, and stakeholders with regard to implementing vulnerability mitigation strategies in Italian territories that are highly susceptible to earthquake hazards

Computer security · Environmental health · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Geography · Poison control · Regional science · Social vulnerability · Vulnerability (computing · Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration · Computer Science · Disaster Management and Resilience · Environmental Science · Psychology · Regional resilience and development