The increased numbers of natural and technical disasters throughout the world demands assessment and modelling of associated risks to society and the environment. Central aim of our group is to conduct research on risk modelling and analysis to provide information and products relevant for disaster management.

On September 30, 2009, an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 occurred offshore Sumatra, Indonesia, and affected the city of Padang severely. This earthquake did not trigger a tsunami but it once more made clear how prone to disasters this region is and underlined the necessity of a comprehensive disaster risk management.

Risk products are an important component for disaster management and evacuation planning. In the framework of the GITEWS project, DLR performed risk and vulnerability analyses for Padang. Currently, local authorities work on tsunami evacuation plans including the identification of potential evacuation buildings and evacuation routes. This process is supported by DLR by providing the risk assessment results, e.g. exposure of population, evacuation time and evacuation building planning maps.

In Bali, another GITEWS pilot area, DLR’s hazard probability maps as important basis for further planning were accepted as official tsunami hazard maps. A Technical Documentation to these maps was compiled by DLR and GTZ. Beside the implementation of risk assessment results on local level, DLR also contributed to international risk assessment guidelines like the UNESCO IOC guideline Risk Assessment and Mitigation for the Indian Ocean.

Fig. 1: Evacuation Time Map 1:25.000 for Padang (high resolution download)

Fig. 2: Tsunami Evacuation Building Planning Map 1:25.000 for Padang (high resolution download)

Fig. 3: Official Tsunami Hazard Map 1:100.000 for southern Bali (high resolution download)

Literature:

Post et al. (2009): Assessment of human immediate response capability related to tsunami threats in Indonesia at a sub-national scale. NHESS, Vol. 9, No. 4, 1075-1086. URL: http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/9/1075/2009/nhess-9-1075-2009.pdf)