A capability approach for seismic risk analysis and management - Seismic Risk Analysis and Management of Civil Infrastructure Systems - page 251

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A capability approach for seismic risk analysis
and management
P. GARDONI and C. MURPHY,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
DOI : 10.1533/9780857098986.2.255
Abstract : Current approaches for seismic risk analysis conceptualize the
consequences of seismic hazards too narrowly. While they are
appropriate for risk analysis and management of individual structures,
they fail to capture the actual impact of seismic hazards on society. The
limitations of current approaches are discussed along with a list of
desiderata for a framework better suited for societal seismic risk analysis
and management. This chapter proposes a capability approach that
meets such desiderata, where capabilities refer to what individuals are
still able to achieve or do in the aftermath of a seismic event. In the
proposed framework, individual capabilities are used to capture the net
societal impact, including both potential benefi ts and opportunities. The
proposed capability approach provides the information needed for
rational decisions on the acceptability and tolerability of risks, informed
and fair public policies, optimal allocation of resource, enhancing the
quality of life, and promoting a sustainable development.
Key words : capability approach, risk analysis, risk management.
10.1 Introduction
Earthquakes and tsunamis present societal risks. Such risks are different
from individual risks (i.e., the risk that an individual may take alone; Murphy
and Gardoni 2011a), because of the complex processes that result in the
possible consequences of a given natural event and their probabilities of
occurrence. Moreover, entire communities might be affected by such risks.
As a result, risk analysis and management for natural hazards need to con-
sider a number of factors that are not typical for individual risks.
As Peter May writes, '[s]eismic safety is a matter of public welfare involv-
ing potential loss of life or injury, disruption of communities, and costs to
governments for addressing earthquake losses and recovery' (May 2001).
Earthquakes are one of the natural hazards communities might face. Strate-
gies to promote safety share the same general goal: protecting the public
by minimizing the societal impact of hazards. This goal informs the three
major objectives of public policy and resource allocation strategies: (1)
reducing the potential losses from hazards; (2) increasing awareness of and
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