Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
to terrain sliding from natural or human causes. As opposed to the systems which achieve in
static regime the stability monitoring of the constructions by using some precision optical
systems or GPS equipments with differential regime functioning but to which the follower
receiver is attached in a fixed montage on the surveyed construction, the proposed mobile
monitoring system permits that the measurements be rapidly performed, at a preset time
interval, with a reduced cost on a multitude of objectives and with a minimum delay between
the moment of some defection apparition and the moment of its identification and alarming.
2. Importance and relevance of the technical content
Monitoring of situations and territories with hydro-geological risk represent an institutional
task of the Public Administrations. Therefore, in some areas, it becomes necessary to achieve
systems for real-time survey, which are able to record the alarm signs of a potential risk for
the population. An early-warning system provides, also, the foundation for an effective risk
mitigation plan, given the uncertainties related to the mathematical prediction of the natural
phenomena and the strong public demand for protection against natural hazards.
The World Bank promotes a proactive and strategic approach to managing natural hazard
risk, by taking into account a comprehensive framework, based on the following five pillars:
Risk assessment -
includes application of the hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and loss
analyses and provides projections of the average annual expected loss and the probable
maximum loss from a single catastrophic event;
Emergency preparedness.
Citizens and government agencies need to be prepared for
breakdowns în essential services, to develop plans for contingencies, and to implement the
plans. They should be encouraged to make resources available for facilities and equipment,
they need to provide emergency personnel, they need training, sponsor exercises, and get
information available for the public;
Investments in risk mitigation.
This may include inexpensive investments in increasing
institutional capacity, strengthen enforcement of building codes, provide training, and
involve communities, including mapping, monitoring and warning systems. As investments
in physical infrastructure (flood protection, landslides prevention and retrofitting of
housing and/or public buildings for seismic resistance) are very expensive, the selection of
the most suitable of them should be carried out by applying cost-benefit or cost-
effectiveness analysis;
Institutional capacity building.
The efficiency and effectiveness of a comprehensive hazard
risk management system depends on the knowledge, awareness, and capacity of the
stakeholders involved. For that purpose, the following aspects are recommended:
to create decentralized emergency management systems;
to ensure community involvement and participation;
to develop an efficient legal framework, and
to provide training, education, and knowledge sharing.
