Recently, global natural disasters have occurred frequently and caused serious damage. As an important urban space resource and public service facility, the reasonable planning and layout optimization of shelters is very important to reduce the disaster loss and improve the sustainable development of cities. Based on the review of location theory and models for shelter site selection, this study constructs a bi-level multi-objective location-allocation model, an accessibility, economy, and efficiency (AEE) model, based on sequential decision logic to maximize the economic sustainability and social utility. The model comprehensively considers factors such as the level of decision-making, the utilization efficiency, and capacity constraints of shelters. The gravity model is introduced to simulate the decision-making behavior of evacuees. A calculation example and its solution prove the high practicability and operability of the AEE model in an actual shelter site selection and construction investment, which can achieve the global optimization of evacuation time and the maximization of the use efficiency of the shelters under the financial constraints. It provides a scientific and effective decision-making method for the multi-objective location optimization problem of shelters.

Despite the emphasis on sustainability in post-disaster recovery plans (PDRPs), few studies have been conducted to investigate the information conveyed in disaster recovery plans in terms of sustainability. We aimed to investigate, in terms of sustainability, how post-disaster recovery plans can be improved from historical learning by examining local recovery plans that were developed and adopted after the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes, which are two representative post-disaster recovery cases in China. An evaluation protocol for sustainability issues was developed to analyze the recovery plans of the most severely affected counties and towns in Wenchuan (16 samples) and Lushan (7 samples). A comparative analysis was conducted to identify the similarities, differences, and evolution of sustainability considerations in these PDRPs. Semi-structured interviews with key informants were conducted to supplement the evaluation with qualitative data. The results show that the components and concepts of sustainability in PDRPs are conveyed and developed mostly by following the organization’s existing patterns and regulations. In contrast, some components are retained across plans, thereby suggesting a substantial general structure of recovery plans. The underlying logic of this experience transfer across plans was discussed. The findings can help local governments and planners to effectively incorporate sustainability into PDRPs.

High-density development mode is a realistic and rational choice of urban space in the process of high-speed urbanization in China. However, as the disaster-bearing body of urban disasters, the high-density characteristics of urban space also make it vulnerable and sensitive in dealing with disasters. Therefore, how to strengthen the protection of urban disaster prevention facilities and continuously improve the adaptability and flexibility of the city is an important factor to promote the sustainable development of high-density cities, which has great research value. Based on this, this paper aims to study and summarize the disaster characteristics of the high-density global metropolis, and preliminarily explore the content of disaster prevention planning system in high-density urban environment, so as to provide a pertinent research basis for the relevant issues of high-density urban disaster prevention.