REGIONAL MULTI-RISK REVIEW, HAZARD WEIGHTING AND SPATIAL PLANNING RESPONSE TO RISK - RESULTS FROM EUROPEAN CASE STUDIES

Olfert, A. Greiving, S. & Batista, M. J. 2006. Regional multi-risk review, hazard weighting and spatial planning response to risk ‐ Results from European case studies. Natural and technological hazards and risks affecting the spatial development of European regions. Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 42, 125‐151, 7 figures, 20 tables. The presence of multiple natural and technological risks in an area is typical for most European regions. However, systematic consideration of multiple risks by spatial planning remains a major challenge. Within the scope of the ESPON Hazards project, a method for (multi-) risk review at regional level was tested, which combines easily available indicators for hazards and vulnerability. As a result, regional risk profiles are derived for four case study regions, providing indicative information for spatial planning at regional level. As part of the risk review, multiple hazards are weighted by expert panels using the Delphi Method. The Delphi Method has proved an appropriate and easily applicable method for deriving consensus between experts regarding the weighting of hazards for planning purposes in multi-risk situations. Weighting by different expert panels has confirmed that results partly depend on subjective risk perception of the participating experts. Methodological modifications in the case studies show that the scale of risk review and the set of indicators used can have a significant impact on the expressiveness of results. Detailed results from the Dresden Region and Centre Region of Portugal are presented.