Title: Multi-attribute aspects for risk assessment of natural hazards

Authors: Ross B. Corotis, Evan M. Hammel

Addresses: Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0428, USA. ' J.R. Harris and Company, 1775 Sherman Street, Denver, Colorado 80203-4318, USA

Abstract: This paper reviews the process of risk-based decision making and creates a new multi-attribute framework for risk analysis of natural hazards. This is based on perceived risks, which are the domain of the social sciences, and mathematical risks, the work of technical sciences. Considering both engineering risk and society|s perceived risk has lead to the development of a graphical tool which conveys the core attributes for natural hazards decision making in the built environment. The multi-attribute risk model includes factors from risk perception; specifically dread and familiarity, and utilises these to develop a method to quantify perceived risk. The method is calibrated with 45 years of natural hazards data in the USA, and the data are presented in terms of total risk as well as on a per event basis.

Keywords: hazards analysis; multi-attribute risks; perceived risk; risk assessment; natural hazards; risk-based decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAM.2010.037083

International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management, 2010 Vol.14 No.6, pp.437 - 458

Published online: 23 Nov 2010 *

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