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