Warta Geologi, Vol. 46, No. 3, December 2020, pp. 235–243

Key principles and approaches in geohazard communication for
enhancing disaster resilience

Alan Thompson¹, Brian Marker¹, Jane
Poole², Joy Jacqueline Pereira^3,*, Choun-Sian Lim^3,4,
Yunus Abdul Razak⁴, Julian Hunt⁵

¹ Cuesta Consulting Limited, United Kingdom

² Idris Consulting Limited, United Kingdom

³ Southeast Asia Disaster Prevention Research Initiative
(SEADPRI-UKM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia

⁴ Geological Society of Malaysia, Malaysia

⁵ Southeast University of Cambridge &
University College London, United Kingdom

*Corresponding author email address: joy@ukm.edu.my

Abstract:
Communication is an essential aspect of preparing for, avoiding or responding
to the occurrence of natural geohazards. As such, it forms an integral part of
any strategy to enhance resilience to geohazard events. Conversely, inadequate
or lack of communication is a common factor in failing to minimise the risks
involved. Communication about geohazards occurs at several different levels:
between geoscientists and other professionals such as the engineers and
planners; between professionals and other groups such as emergency services and
insurance companies; and between all of these parties and the general public
who are affected by events. Geoscientists need to be involved in all of these
lines of communication. This paper examines the essential role of geoscientists
in helping to reduce the risks associated with a wide range of geohazards. A
series of key principles that links to a generic model of geohazard
communication applicable to a wide range of scenarios is presented.

Keywords:
geohazards, natural hazards, geoscience communication, disaster risk reduction,
disaster resilience

Abstrak:
Komunikasi merupakan aspek penting dalam siapsiaga, penghindaran dan tindak
balas terhadap kejadian geobahaya tabii. Ia adalah teras utama kepada pembinaan
daya tahan terhadap impak geobahaya. Sebaliknya, kegagalan dalam komunikasi
seringkali mengakibatkan sesuatu risiko tidak dapat dinilai dengan baik atau
dikurangkan. Komunikasi risiko tentang geobahaya dapat dibahagi kepada beberapa
peringkat dan kumpulan pihak berkepentingan, iaitu profesion geosaintis dengan
profesion lain seperti jurutera dan juru perancang bandar; kumpulan profesion
dengan kumpulan perkhidmatan kecemasan dan syarikat insurans; serta kumpulan
profesional dengan orang awam. Geosaintis mempunyai peranan tersendiri dalam
setiap peringkat kerjanya dan komunikasi dengan kumpulan tersebut. Kajian ini
mengkaji kepentingan keterlibatan geosaintis dalam pengurangan risiko untuk
pelbagai jenis geobahaya. Berdasarkan senario kerja-kerja geosaintis, beberapa
prinsip dan amalan telah dikemukakan untuk membolehkan komunikasi maklumat
geobahaya dapat dilaksanakan.

Kata
kunci: geobahaya, bahaya tabii, komunikasi geosains, pengurangan risiko
bahaya, dayatahan bencana

DOI :
https://doi.org/10.7186/wg463202012

ISSN
0126–5539; e-ISSN 2682-7549