This study developed an integrated disaster risk assessment framework (IDRAF) to measure disaster risk at the local administrative boundaries in Malaysia. The proposed framework can enhance government effort for disaster risk reduction by implementing an integrated disaster risk framework and guiding decision makers to properly evaluate and analyze risk for mitigation, preparedness, and planning. The framework was developed, expanding from the multi-hazard spatial overlapping and Methods for the Improvement of Vulnerability Assessment in Europe (MOVE) theoretical framework. There are five significant phases to develop this framework: problem formulation, data collection, multi-hazard characterization, multi-dimensional vulnerability characterization, and weightage determination. The IDRAF proposed for Malaysia consists of eight hazards and six vulnerability dimensions, which consist of 16 factors (or vulnerability group) and 54 indicators. The multi-hazard characterization has two components: frequency of occurrence and spatial interaction. The multidimensional vulnerability characterization reduces vulnerability indicators using principal component analysis (PCA). Measuring integrated risk is an effective strategy at the local level or national level to assess the potential disaster impacts in detail and accurately. This study will offer explicit knowledge and boost community competency, creating techniques and tools to analyze various risk factors and vulnerability indicators for decision makers and practitioners.
12 December 2023 in Science of The Total Environment
This study explores the application of geospatial technologies, specifically focusing on Google Earth (GE), to extract and mapping point source pollution in the upstream of Sungai Skudai Catchment (SRC). A thorough analysis of the locations of restaurants, launderettes, car washes, and workshops was made practical by the combination of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools with satellite images, which offers important data for environmental planning and water quality management. The research area, located in Johor, Malaysia, offers an example of the difficulties driven by rapid urban growth. This study provides comprehensive directions for extracting point sources, with a focus on verifying data via field surveys and Google searches. The upstream region was found to have 373 restaurants, 62 launderettes, 73 car washes, and 80 workshops. The dataset was further improved by the validation process, which determined any inconsistencies and added additional data. This study highlights the importance of field verification for improving point source pollution data accuracy. It also provides a base for comprehensive strategies for pollution management, land-use planning, and preservation efforts in rapidly changing environments, such as the Sungai Skudai Catchment.