Published works

In this report, literature pertinent to the development of natural hazard mitigation decision support systems is reviewed across four areas:

1. Evidence for the increased frequency of natural hazards and the benefits of mitigation are reviewed.  

2. Mitigation planning is reviewed, with the presentation of mitigation planning frameworks and classifications of mitigation options.

3. The decision support system (DSS) literature is surveyed to understand current research thrusts in this field.  

4. The development of emergency management DSSs since the early 1980s is surveyed, with a particular focus on DSSs for mitigation. 

Consequently, this report concludes that the development of decision support systems that (i) use state of the art methodologies, (ii) incorporate the use of optimisation within a multihazard approach, (iii) consider changes in climate, demographics, land use and economics, and (iv) assess land-use related mitigation measures in addition to structural and management measures, is both important and novel.