Regional demographic changes are important regional characteristics that need to be considered for the establishment of disaster prevention policies against climate change worldwide. In this study, we propose urban disaster prevention plans based on the classification and characterization of flood vulnerable areas reflecting demographic changes. Data on the property damage, casualties, and flooded area between 2009 and 2018 in 229 municipalities in South Korea were collected and analyzed, and 74 flood vulnerable areas were selected. The demographic change in the selected areas from 2000 to 2018 was examined through comparative analyses of the population size, rate of population change, and population change proportion by age group and gender. Flood vulnerable areas were categorized into three types through K-mean cluster analysis. Based on the analysis results, a strategic plan was proposed to provide information necessary for establishing regional flood-countermeasure policies.

This study analyzed the decision-making times (DMTs) of participants at T-type indoor intersections according to the horizontal/vertical installation locations and the arrow directions of escape route signs. A total of 120 university students participated in the study. We analyzed the DMTs and following rates (FRs) required for the participants to observe the visual stimuli of the signs installed in front of the T-type indoor intersections and then properly select a path according to the arrow direction of the signs. The results are as follows: (1) the participants exhibited shorter DMTs for the right arrow direction of the signs, (2) the Simon effect occurred when the horizontal installation location of the signs was more than 60 cm away from the center of the T-type indoor intersection on both sides, (3) the DMTs of participants increased when the vertical installation location of the signs was low. Finally, we proposed an optimal installation location of the signs to support the shortest DMTs at T-type indoor intersections. It is expected that the results of this study will provide a database of DMTs, based on the locations of the signs during emergency evacuations, and will be utilized to improve the installation guidelines and regulations of signs.

Climate change has intensified flooding and increased localized torrential rainfalls, leading to disasters such as landslides, infrastructure collapse, and urban floods. The extent and accuracy of flood damage information significantly impact recovery processes. While previous studies primarily utilized satellite and aerial imagery for broad flood assessments, they often lacked the precision needed for accurate damage analysis. This study addresses the gap between rapid assessment needs and precise damage quantification in flood inundation analysis. This research introduces a novel image-based investigation approach to enhance the speed and accuracy of flood inundation assessment. By leveraging unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and image-based spatial data technology, aerial images of flooded areas are rapidly captured to construct three-dimensional disaster site terrain information. The proposed methodology employs advanced techniques in aerial photography, image processing, and geographic analysis to quantitatively analyze flood inundation scale using only aerial images and geographic information systems (GIS). The research yielded a calculated flood inundation area of 3,847.36 m² and a flood volume of 13,895.13 m³. This methodology complements existing flood inundation assessment techniques and has the potential to significantly improve disaster management efforts by providing rapid, accurate, and actionable data for decision-makers.

To improve safety through design, the state can take the initiative in building certification. In this study, we systematically review and review the Barrier-Free (BF) certification evaluation for barrier-free design by implementing information modeling. We developed and applied a BIM-based evaluation template to the evaluation items derived from IPA analysis. As a result of the application, we were able to construct an efficient evaluation sheet by utilizing BIM tools. The results of the study showed that there is a need to improve the BF certification criteria and develop evaluation-related items utilizing BIM functions. This study can be utilized in the future for the development of BIM-based certification criteria for the disabled and the development of evaluation sheets.