Disaster Risk Reduction in Complex City Systems (with a possibility of linking it various EU or ESA funded projects)

Urban systems consist of multiple interrelated components, including physical and social structures, among them people, organizations, infrastructures, technology and the economy. In such an environment, how a disruption in one sub-system could affect the entire urban system cannot be foreseen in every detail prior to a disaster. In this research, you will work on the consequences of uncertain interactions in urban systems due to dynamic and interactive conditions, involvements of multiple actors and changing technologies and cultures.

Dynamic and interactive conditions: The outcome of actions defined in the plan by regulations could be different than anticipated due to the constantly changing environment. In such a situation, new decisions, which are not defined in the plan, have to be taken with limited knowledge of the current situation.

Involvement of multiple actors: Organizations, institutions, people, and activities are as many parts of a system as its physical artefacts, and all of them are dynamic and interlinked in nature. The interdependencies bind individual and collective actions and physical elements in cities.

Changing technologies and cultures: Technology can trigger the disturbance or become part of the solution. The question of how organizations and institutions could adapt to technological changes is key to smart and liveable cities.

Case study areas will be selected together with students. The research might potentially be linked to the PARATUS project.