Safeguarding urban functionality

A pre-disaster planning framework for identifying important urban assets in multi-risk recovery

Journal Article (2026)
Author(s)

Soheil Mohammadi (Università degli Studi di Genova)

Silvia De Angeli (Lorraine University, Università degli Studi di Genova)

Nazli Yonca Aydin (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management, TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)

Giorgio Boni (Università degli Studi di Genova)

Serena Cattari (Università degli Studi di Genova)

Francesca Pirlone (Università degli Studi di Genova)

Tina Comes (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR))

Research Group
System Engineering
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2026.106225 Final published version
More Info
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Publication Year
2026
Language
English
Research Group
System Engineering
Journal title
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
Volume number
142
Article number
106225
Downloads counter
10
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Abstract

For recovery to be effective and efficient, proactive measures such as strengthening the resilience of important urban assets must be implemented before disaster strikes. However, existing approaches fail to account for potential consecutive disaster impacts, the transformational changes that happen as a result of the disaster, and the shifting role of urban assets in post-disaster environments. This study presents a methodological framework to support pre-disaster recovery planning in urban areas exposed to multi-hazard risks, namely earthquakes followed by floods. In this study, we develop a methodological framework using a graph-based analytical approach to assess the importance of buildings, roads, census blocks, and temporary shelter areas in urban areas. This method focuses on capturing how the importance of urban assets shifts after consecutive disaster events. Applied to Sanremo, Italy, the methodological framework reveals the vulnerabilities associated with centralized urban planning and a notable mismatch between residential density and the distribution of important assets. The findings underscore how network disruptions and consecutive disasters impact urban connectivity, highlighting the urgent need for decentralized planning and adaptable disaster risk reduction strategies.