The role of geotechnical mapping in integrated risk and disaster management

Abstract

This article summarizes the results of a study on the role of geotechnical mapping in the integrated management of risks and disasters associated with geological and/or hydrological processes. The methodological procedures employed involve a survey of the predominant types of geotechnical mapping in development in Brazil since the publication of the National Policy for Civil Defense and Protection in 2012. The strategic actions that make up risk and disaster management are distinguished, taking as reference the systemic approach guideline expressed in the Policy and the content of Sendai Framework established by the United Nations for the period 2015-2030. The actions addressed include: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response and reconstruction, discussing the potential application of geotechnical mapping in each of them. The results obtained show the predominant production of geotechnical susceptibility maps, geotechnical maps of urbanization suitability and geotechnical risk maps, the latter also called risk sectorization maps. The analyses performed allow us to conclude that susceptibility maps and urbanization suitability maps tend to contribute especially to prevention, in order to avoid the creation of new risks. Susceptibility maps can also assist in mitigation, guiding the prioritization of locations for the purposes of risk analysis at a detailed scale. Both susceptibility maps and urbanization suitability maps can also contribute to reconstruction, indicating the areas most favorable to new constructions. In turn, risk sectorization maps constitute the basis for mitigation of existing risks at a local level, supporting the development of municipal risk reduction plans, and can also assist in prevention, preparation, response and reconstruction, subsidizing, respectively, the control of factors that may lead to risk, installation of warning and mobilization systems, post-event risk analysis and reoccupation of affected areas.