The role of vulnerability assessment in urban planning for mitigating seismic risk

Natural disasters are becoming increasingly frequent with the acceleration of urbanization. As cities continue to expand both infrastructure and populations face heightened exposure to natural hazards. This uncontrolled growth often lacks the necessary resilience to withstand shocks, further complicating disaster preparedness and response efforts. Seismic events dominate the list of the most catastrophic disasters. Disaster risk emerges from the intersection of hazard frequency, intensity, and impact with the number of exposed people and assets, as well as their vulnerability to damage. Despite vulnerability being a fundamental component of risk assessment, research often prioritizes 'hazard' and 'exposure' over an in-depth examination of 'vulnerability' due to the challenges of identifying it. This study aims to highlight the role of vulnerability assessment in urban planning for seismic risk mitigation. It begins with a theoretical review of the concept of risk assessment and its main components. Additionally, a literature review on seismic vulnerability assessment was conducted to identify key factors contributing to increased seismic vulnerability. The results indicate that vulnerability assessment is a critical element of risk assessment. In assessing vulnerability, a multidimensional approach is essential. Vulnerability encompasses various physical, social, economic, and built environmental factors that influence urban areas. The complexity of vulnerability arises from the interplay of multiple variables, which vary significantly across different communities. Understanding and identifying the factors that contribute to seismic vulnerability and their interactions can help direct efforts toward addressing these aspects, thereby increasing the resilience of cities and urban areas.