Journal of Zhejiang University: Science B

Purpose Tourism is a vulnerable industry easily influenced by safety and security challenges such as violence, health issues and natural disasters. To quickly recover from negative impacts in the tourism sector, the industry must adapt to changes and cope with extreme conditions. In this regard, the purpose of this paper is to understand the factors influencing the tourism industry’s adaptive capacity to volcanic eruptions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach Using binary logistic regression, a quantitative approach was used to answer the research question regarding the adaptive capacity against the eruption and the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, a semiqualitative method was used to identify the tourism industry’s coping strategy in dealing with the eruption and the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings According to the research findings, the tourism industry was more affected by the COVID-19 pandemic than by the eruption. In addition, various determinant factors have influenced the adaptive ability to the eruption and the COVID-19 pandemic, and this study offers successful strategies for improving adaptive capacity and enhancing resilience. Finally, this study indicates that to deal with current issues, multi-hazard risk assessments should be integrated with adaptive capacity hazard type elements to reduce future disaster risks and improve tourism business capacity. Originality/value The tourism industry is the most important economic pillar in developing countries. If disasters are not adequately understood, they have the potential to halt the tourism industry. However, no research has been conducted to examine the adaptive capacity of the tourism sector in disasters, especially in volcanic eruptions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges to the construction sector, emphasizing the need for resilience to maintain productivity, ensure project safety and support a sustainable built environment. This study aims to investigate resilience tactics adopted by the Nigerian construction sector to mitigate the pandemic’s impact, addressing a gap in existing literature on resilience practices in developing economies. Design/methodology/approach An extensive literature review identified resilience tactics applied in the construction industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire was developed based on this information. It was distributed to registered consulting and contracting firms in Nigeria. The data was analyzed using mean score, standard deviation and exploratory factor analysis, with reliability confirmed via Cronbach’s alpha. Findings Four main resilience tactics emerged from the analysis: new ideas/innovative tactics, financial sustainability tactics, contractual flexibility tactics and smart construction safety. Among these, the innovative tactic was identified as the most significant, reflecting a shift toward adaptive, technology-driven approaches. These tactics were crucial in enhancing worker engagement, maintaining productivity and improving safety protocols during the pandemic. Practical implications This study provides actionable insights for construction stakeholders and organizations, equipping them to implement these resilience tactics in anticipation of future disruptions. The application of these tactics strengthens the sector’s ability to withstand and recover from crises. Originality/value This study uniquely contributes to resilience literature by offering a structured, empirical analysis of crisis management in Nigeria’s construction sector, differing from prior studies by focusing on a developing-economy context. It advances the understanding of sustainable resilience, enriching the body of knowledge on construction industry adaptability.

Purpose This study aims to present a comprehensive examination of fire risk components in the historic core areas of Indian cities through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) lens. Urban fire incidents pose significant threats to public safety and infrastructure, necessitating a systematic evaluation of key risk factors. Design/methodology/approach This study presents a comprehensive examination of fire risk components in the historic core areas of Indian cities through the AHP lens. Urban fire incidents pose significant threats to public safety and infrastructure, necessitating a systematic evaluation of key risk factors. Leveraging the AHP methodology, this research identifies and prioritizes critical criteria, including area-level vulnerabilities, socio-economic vulnerabilities, building-level capacities, emergency service capacities and historical fire incidents along with other crucial components. The hierarchical structure facilitates a nuanced analysis, allowing for comparing criteria and alternatives to derive precise priority weights. Findings The findings provide a strategic understanding of the factors contributing to fire risk in the historic urban cores, offering valuable insights for urban planners, emergency service personnel and policymakers. The study emphasizes strategic prioritization through the AHP framework. This study contributes to the broader discourse on urban resilience by offering a robust methodology for assessing and managing fire risks in the dynamic urban landscape of Indian cities. Originality/value This study contributes to the broader discourse on urban resilience by offering a robust methodology for assessing and managing fire risks in the dynamic urban landscape of Indian cities.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to foster disaster risk reduction as identified by the Sendai Framework through understanding disaster risk mitigation and strengthening disaster preparedness at the community level. Design/methodology/approach Using qualitative and quantitative data from Quetta, Balochistan, the team collected primary data from 400 households using stratified random sampling with proportionate allocation through a survey questionnaire, along with fieldwork and group discussions. SPSS was used for the survey data for analysis. This paper identifies factors that promote community resilience through raising community awareness, preparedness and reducing risk. Findings Natural hazards including seismic shocks and their consequences such as avalanches and landslides remain serious challenges to vulnerable communities in developing and developed nations around the world. The results of this study reveal that despite being in an active fault zone with large-scale earthquakes, most respondents had little interaction with warning systems, no engagement with planning efforts and a minimum knowledge of evacuation procedures. Practical implications This study provides policy guidance to government and non-government agencies to optimize disaster management activities in pre- and post-disaster situations. Originality/value To the best if the authors knowledge, the study is the first of its kind in the study area focusing on risk reduction strategies including up-grading bottom-up engagement and community risk mitigation through grassroots educational outreach to build resilience and reduce community vulnerability to natural disasters.

Purpose This paper aims to focus on devising a comprehensive approach for avalanche susceptibility mapping leveraging the analytic hierarchical process (AHP) coupled with multi-criteria weighted overlay (MCWO) technique and further prioritizing based on ASSI and flow modeling. Design/methodology/approach The research methodology comprises four main stages. Initially, relevant spatial data sets, including terrain attributes and meteorological factors, are collected, processed and reclassified. The AHP with MCWO is then applied to establish hierarchical criteria and determine the relative importance of each criterion, resulting in a composite avalanche susceptibility map (ASM). Avalanche sites identified and vectorized from ASM, prioritized using avalanche site susceptibility index (ASSI). Final prioritization is based on RAMMS flow modeling for three sites with the highest ASSI. Finally, a Web-based application, AvalSAFE-LPR, is created using Google Earth Engine for visualization and dissemination of results. Findings The final analysis of the study area shows that 28.5% is classified as low susceptibility, 56.6% as moderate susceptibility and 14.9% as high susceptibility zones. Additionally, 28 avalanche sites were identified along the LPR, and the three sites with the highest ASSI were modeled using the RAMMS: Avalanche Module. Originality/value This research represents a novel approach to identify, vectorize and prioritize the avalanche prone sites by integrating AHP with RAMMS: Avalanche Module and ASSI.

Purpose The world is reeling from the effects of climate change with increased extreme precipitation. Flooding is amongst the most recurring and devastating natural hazards, impacting human lives and causing severe economic damage. This paper aims to conduct a systematic review to critically analyse the most reported and emerging flood disaster resilience indicators. Design/methodology/approach A total of 35 papers were selected through a systematic process using both Web of Science and Scopus databases. The selected literature was subjected to a thorough thematic content analysis. Findings From the review, 77 emerging flood disaster resilience assessment indicators were identified. Furthermore, based on the individual meanings and relationships of the derived indicators, they were further categorized into six groups, namely, physical, institutional, social, psychological, ecology and economic. More also, it was identified that most of the selected publications have used objective resilience measurement approaches as opposed to subjective resilience measurement approaches. Originality/value The generated list of flood disaster resilience indicators will provide insights into the capacities which can be improved to enhance the overall resilience to flood disasters in communities.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to address role of women in reducing vulnerabilities induced by waterlogging in the study area. The study also aims to identify the women’s role in disasters preparedness and disaster risk reduction. Design/methodology/approach The study followed the triangulation of qualitative and quantitative method. A semistructured questionnaire was used for collecting quantitative data from 400 females who have experienced and affected by waterlogging from four villages under the Dhaka–Narayanganj–Demra (DND) embankment area in Narayanganj district. Furthermore, 6 focus group discussions, 25 case studies and 6 key informant interview have been conducted to gather information about the nature of vulnerabilities, coping mechanisms followed by women role played by women to mitigate vulnerabilities and problems encountered by women as effective managers. Findings Findings of this study have revealed that women’s vulnerability enhances due to unequal access to basic services, like access to income and related opportunities, improve health-care service, access to proper sanitation, dual work burden and nonrecognition of their contribution and also socio-cultural barriers to participate in disaster and reconstruction processes. The traditional social structure and patriarchal societal norms made maximal women of the survey area worst victims of waterlogging as the findings confirms. During disasters, women use some indigenous coping mechanisms, yet women rarely used any indigenous coping mechanisms on their own. Originality/value The study identified agency and vulnerabilities of women in the context of DND embankment area of Narayanganj, Dhaka that has not been previously explored.

Purpose This paper aimed to develop a participatory methodology to analyze the disaster risk creation in coastal cities, based on an approach that combines social, urban, environmental and disaster risk elements. Design/methodology/approach The methodology uses some aspects of three theoretical approaches in a complementary way: i) the Pressure and Release (PAR) framework for the identification of dynamic pressures that contribute to disaster risk creation; ii) the application of Drivers, Pressure, State, Impact, Response (DPSIR) framework to analyze environmental dimensions; and iii) urban analysis, applying the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) tool to classify urban processes. The methodology combined the use of satellite remote sensing data to analyze the urban sprawl and citizen science methods to collect social and environmental data, using the case study of the watershed of the Juqueriquerê River in the coastal city of Caraguatatuba, Brazil. The pilot project was part of a local university extension project of the undergraduate course on Architecture and Urban Planning and also engaged residents and city hall representatives. Findings The satellite remote sense data analysis indicated a continuous urban sprawl between 1985 and 2020, especially in the south of the Juqueriquerê watershed, reducing urban drainage and increasing the extension and water depth of urban flooding and riverine floods. Using citizen science methods, undergraduates identified settlements with limited economic resources to elevate houses and a lack of infrastructure to promote a resilient coastal city. After identifying the dynamic pressures that contribute to disaster risk creation and the weaknesses and strengths of a resilient city, undergraduate students proposed urban planning interventions and gray and green infrastructure projects to mitigate disaster risks. Social implications The paper identifies urban sprawl in disaster-prone areas as one of the risk factors contributing to disaster. It also comprehensively analyzes differences between different zones in the Juqueriqere River, which will be useful for policy-making. Originality/value The method presented an interdisciplinary approach that used satellite remote sensing data and citizen science techniques to analyze disaster risks in coastal cities. The multidimensional approach used to evaluate risks is useful and can be replicated in other similar studies to gain a more comprehensive understanding of disaster risks.

Purpose This paper aims to inform the readers an overview of expected impacts of sea level rise (SLR) and climate change on rice crops area, yield and the urgent need to build climate responsive infrastructures to a coastal district, Alappuzha – a high-risk area which is already under mean sea level (MSL). This research carried out to understand the realities and impacts with respect to the exposures of rise in SLR and possible inundation extent of crop land. The extreme precipitation events have caused crop loss and damage, numerous casualties and enormous economic loss in this district during the recent past and project the likely impacts under anticipated climate change. Design/methodology/approach Global sea levels have already been risen noticeably as a result of climate change, and this trend is anticipated to continue. To reflect on the research objectives, the paper projects a climate change scenario analysis and impact assessment on the major crop grown, i.e. rice, using a crop simulation model, DSSAT 4.7 as the first part of the study. QGIS 3.28 version and Erdas Imagine software were used for land use land cover analysis and to delineate possible inundation in the major land use land cover, especially in agriculture area under SLR scenario. It points out the need to equip the district urgently with climate responsive agriculture strategies as majority of the area comes under 10 mts of elevation as per the Sentinel 2 data. For better adapting to the current and future climate change impacts in the aspects of built environment such as early warnings in farm sector in particular and forests, urban water management, transportation systems, building construction and operation and land use planning in general. Climate change is no longer a policy issue alone; now it is a common man’s nightmare. For a coastal state like Kerala, extreme climate events during 2018 and 2019 and 2021 have posed substantial impacts and damages on the environment and society. The impacts hit the vulnerable communities in multiple ways. Findings From the analysis, it was revealed that there is an increasing trend in rainfall observed over the past three decades in Alappuzha district. It is projected that day and night time temperatures may increase in Alappuzha by 2.5°C and 2.6°C by 2100, respectively, under RCP 4.5. With unchecked pollution or emission reduction actions, warming may further rise and hence the median projection when SLR reaches 2.4 meters (8 ft) at Alappuzha to Cochin coast is 2130s. The possible inundation analysis shows that around 53.48% of the coastal agriculture land may be likely inundated if SLR is only with mitigation measures such as extreme carbon cuts, SLR rise can be delayed till 2200. Alappuzha is known as the rice bowl of Kerala; however, it is highly exposed to climate vulnerability in terms of its unique environmental geographical settings like coastal wetlands, lagoons and sand beaches. DSSAT simulations shows that Uma rice, a major ruling variety in the region, may have yield reductions of up to 13% in the near century for Alappuzha. Research limitations/implications This paper in general explains the projected climate change perspectives for Alappuzha, a climate change hotspot of Kerala with respect to SLR and coastal agriculture. and a review of the progression of DRR in the built environment and mainstreaming CCA and DRR by government and other agencies in the state. Practical implications This study underscores the urgent need for climate-responsive agricultural strategies in Alappuzha, Kerala, due to anticipated sea level rise, climate change, and land use changes. Equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools to adapt is essential for ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods. Implementing climate-resilient practices and technologies will help mitigate adverse effects on rice crops, promoting economic stability and resilience in the region. Involving local stakeholders in the adaptation process is crucial, as their participation can enhance collaboration, increase awareness, and accelerate the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, making the transition smoother and more effective. Social implications It is the responsibility of the scientific community to inform the knowledge gained for the benefit of the society, especially on criticality of altering the existing land use pattern and building climate resilient coastal infrastructures. Studies such as this can stand as basis for implementing planned adaption actions. This is to conclude that instead of working in silos, mainstreaming climate change adaptation holistically across sectors is very necessary at this crucial hour. Participatory action plans and policies involving all local stakeholders can strengthen awareness and fasten the learning processes for adaptation including managed retreats. Originality/value At present, there are no specific studies, on the impacts of climate change and SLR on rice cropping systems in the district which specifically inform how to mainstream adaptation in the agriculture strategies in low lying coastal zones of Alappuzha.

Purpose Turkey hosts the majority of Syrians who fled their country due to the Syrian Civil War that started in 2011, and Syrians mostly live in the provinces most affected by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of the presence of disadvantaged population on disaster risk in Turkey, a disaster country, through the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes and Syrian asylum-seekers, based on the claim that the vulnerability caused by this additional population residing in the provinces most affected by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes is a factor that will increase the disastrousness of the earthquakes. Design/methodology/approach Based on the mathematical model used in the calculation of the Human Development Index, the study comparatively calculates the vulnerability of the Turkish and Syrian populations residing in the earthquake-affected provinces by taking into account population density, gender, age, education and employment factors. Findings The findings of the analysis show that the vulnerability of Syrian asylum seekers in Kilis, Gaziantep and Hatay provinces is higher than the vulnerability of the Turkish population. Originality/value This paper shows significant findings on the effects of disadvantaged groups residing in a disaster-prone area concerning the consequences of the devastating earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023 in the southern region of Turkey.

Purpose The adoption of nature-based solutions (NBS) for resilient cities has been receiving concern because of global threats of climate variation and a bid to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. NBS promotes a healthy environment and discourages land loss. NBS applications have been researched, especially in developing nations; however, there is a lack of evidence on their roles, impediments and drivers in southern Nigerian cities. Therefore, this study aims to systematically review the applicability of NBS for resilient urban residences (RUR) in southern Nigeria. Also, it proposes strategies for addressing environmental issues via a framework that will support future studies. Design/methodology/approach Southern Nigeria's riparian settlements are vulnerable to climate variability's devastating effects. A systematic review of literature on NBS for RUR resilience was conducted, sourcing 29 papers included in the study from 2004 to 2023 using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses from Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science databases in November 2023. Findings The review identified three themes: NBS's role in fostering urban resilience, impediments to its application and drivers for resilient RUR, with five roles, eight impediments and eight drivers identified in the literature. Research limitations/implications This study explores literature on environmental drivers for practitioners promoting NBS, suggesting a qualitative research approach for advanced studies. However, the systematic review-based recommendations maintain the robustness of the NBS application for RUR in southern Nigeria, despite the need for advanced studies. Practical implications This study outlines the five roles, eight impediments and eight drivers for promoting the application of NBS in southern Nigeria. This study noted that NBS can improve urban residential precincts, maintain residents' quality of life, purify air, regulate temperature and reduce glare, urban heat and land loss. The findings can be used by environmental and construction practitioners, clients, academics and policymakers to promote NBS applications in Nigeria. Adapting NBS should be a basic consideration in residential property planning and design for building plan approval. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this systematic review analysis is the first to explore NBS application in Southern Nigeria RUR, offering flexible strategies to advance NBS in the Nigerian locale.

Purpose This study aims to examine how women on board influence quality and quantity disclosure of emissions discharge by the listed non-financial firms for the period of six years (2016–2021), with institutional ownership as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach The study obtained data from a sample of 83 listed non-financial firms. A content analysis technique was employed to compute emissions disclosure indexes using Global Reporting Initiatives standards from the sampled firms. Random and fixed effect regression analyses were run for both direct and moderation models. Based on the results of the Hausman tests, random results were adopted and used in examining the relationship. Findings The result reveals that women on board are significantly related to emission disclosure. The study also documented that institutional owners have not influenced the relationship between women directors and emissions disclosure. Practical implications The study's findings have practical implications for emerging economies, corporations and other business organizations seeking to actively involve the emissions control and reduction issues toward sustainable development goals 5, 7 and 13 in their business models and successfully communicate these efforts to stakeholders. Social implications Listed firms in emerging economies would gain sincerity through the women directors’ knowledge, skills, demographics and ethnicity in the society. Therefore, corporate bodies in emerging economies can successfully contribute toward improving the social welfare of various segments of society by controlling current and future climate issues. Additionally, society will surely benefit when firms control the pollution discharges within the community. Originality/value This is the first study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, that provides empirical evidence on the effect of the presence of women on board on emissions disclosure using institutional ownership as a moderator in Nigeria.

Purpose This study aims to understand how climatic drivers of change will affect rural communities living in the hot semiarid region of Bhokardan Taluka of Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. In the context of the economic and social change they are experiencing, the concern is to evolve ways that enable them to cope with, adapt to and benefit from these challenges. Design/methodology/approach The focus of most of the climate change studies is on the short- to long-term trends of weather parameters such as rainfall, temperature and extreme weather events. The impact of climate variability and changing patterns on the local communities, the local economy, livelihoods and social life in specific geographies is less explored. Findings As the impacts of climatic and nonclimatic drivers of change are cross-sectoral, diverse, multidimensional, interlinked and dynamic, this study has adopted a transdisciplinary “research-in-use” approach involving multidisciplinary teams covering the aspects such as changes in land use and land cover, surface and groundwater status, edaphic conditions, crops and livestock, climate analysis including projected changes, socioeconomic analysis, people’s experience of climate variability and their current coping strategies and resilience (vulnerability) analysis of communities and various livelihood groups. Research limitations/implications The study was based on the peoples’ perspective and recommendation based on the local communities ability to cope up with climate change. However, a statistical analysis perspective is missing in the present study. Originality/value Based on these findings, a set of implementation-focused recommendations are made that are aimed at conserving and enhancing the resilience of the foundations that uphold and sustain the social and economic well-being of the rural communities in Bhokardan taluka, namely, land, water, agriculture, livestock, food and nutrition security, livelihoods, market access and social capital.

Purpose To strengthen the resilience of Algerian cities subject to major hazards, this study aims to propose an evaluation of the capacity of the road network and open space (unbuilt spaces of the city) to respond to the postearthquake crisis for the evacuation and rescue of victims after a destructive earthquake. Design/methodology/approach The presented method was practiced by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Algerian Center for Applied Research in Earthquake Engineering (CGS) for the seismic microzoning study of the city of Algiers. The criterion, “Emergency evacuation and rescue facility” was applied to the city of Boudouaou as a tool for the evaluation of the road network and open space, and the analysis used Geographic Information System (GIS) data based on experimental indices conducted in Japan. Findings The assessment presents vulnerability maps showing the location of urban areas of high vulnerability to accessibility for evacuation and rescue of disaster victims at the time of the earthquake. The paper offers managers the possibility of decreasing the vulnerability rate of the city by preventive remedies, such as providing refuge areas for disaster victims and widening streets to facilitate the passage of rescue workers in vulnerable areas before the arrival of the earthquake. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, being the first to present an evaluation of the road network and open space in the face of seismic risk in the region studied, the article demonstrates the importance of urban resilience in reducing human and material losses during a destructive earthquake.

Purpose There is an urgent need to translate climate change awareness into tangible climate adaptation strategies. The built environment is identified as one of the kick-off points in making climate change adaptation as the built environment shares a dual-way relationship. While the built environment largely contributes to the climate change-triggering factors, it also becomes highly vulnerable in the face of climate change impacts. Tied up with the interconnectedness of the built environment processes and associated systems, the involvement of numerous stakeholders from different spectrums creates the need for a holistic and multi-stakeholder approach in developing climate response strategies for the built environment. Accordingly, this study aims to identify the roles and responsibilities of the different built environment stakeholders in climate change adaptation. Design/methodology/approach The study consisted of a scoping review at the initial stage, contextualising studies based on secondary data, and semi-structured expert interviews in five different countries: the UK, Sweden, Malta, Spain and Sri Lanka. The paper summarises the findings of the individual country-level desk studies and 65 built environment stakeholder interviews representing national and local governments, communities, academia and research organisations, civil organisations, professional bodies and the private sector. The findings were validated through focus group discussions in two stakeholder seminars. Findings The findings summarised a set of key roles and sub-roles for each stakeholder category, considering the current status and needs. The national governments need to set a long-term vision, enabling multi-sector interventions while promoting investment and innovation in climate change adaptation. The local governments overlook local adaptation plans, while the community is responsible for decarbonising operations and practising adaptation at the local level. Civil organisations and professional bodies are the voice of the community, linking policy and practice. Academia and research are responsible for nurturing skills and new knowledge, and the private sector must contribute by adopting climate resilience into their business portfolio and corporate social responsibility. Research limitations/implications This research is part of an Europe-Union-funded research project, Built Environment leArning for Climate Adaptation (BEACON), which aims to develop skills and competencies of the built environment professionals so that they will be adequately equipped to handle the adaptation process of the built environment needs to adapt in facing the climate change impacts. Originality/value The paper provides an in-depth analysis of the roles and responsibilities pertaining to each category of the different stakeholders in effectively adapting the built environment to withstand the climate change consequences. Demarcation of each stakeholder’s roles and responsibilities separately facilitates collaboration and coordination between the different parties and provides a more holistic approach to climate change adaptation in the built environment.