Published works

Exposure in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) describes as “what is at risk” that includes people, buildings, infrastructure, businesses, hazardous substances and primary industries. Exposure information comprises the details needed to support situational awareness at all levels of governance and in various phases of disaster management. There is plenty of fundamental data on assets exposed to natural hazards is available with many data custodians including ABS (Census), GA (NEXIS), ABR (Business Registry), NSW (EICU, ESSIL), QLD (redi-EXPOSURE), Melbourne City (CLUE), and Insurance portfolio in the sector.   

The available data has inconsistency in resolution, definitions, geography, and seamless features across administrative areas and access conditions of the exposure information for the end users. The current information provision capabilities have the lack of comprehensive exposure attributes, standards, centralised database, access infrastructure and inventory strategies. 

Extensive literature review and stakeholder consultations were conducted to identify comprehensive list of information requirements. The project has conducted an on-line survey with many data custodians who provide the exposure data to end users. Current exposure information capabilities are developed in isolation at national, state and local level or are industry specific.

The Natural Hazards Exposure Information Framework is to provide guidelines for the information system development in a nationally consistent way and provide access for diverse users. The annual report outlines the achievements of the project and its milestones. The project has completed built environment exposure information framework as a major milestone. The business exposure information framework is delayed and likely to be completed by September.

The framework presents the details of exposed assets to natural hazards as components, elements and attributes. The exposure components considered in the framework are buildings, people, businesses, transport sector, energy sector, communication sector, potable water, major industries, primary industries and waste management. The exposure elements outlined for each of the components as assets, usage and value categories. The elements are further outlines as standard set of data attributes required for researchers and decision makers. The level of details required for end users vary, therefore the framework categorises the information provision into three levels depends on user requirements such as policy & planning; Response & Recovery; and research analysis.

The framework outlines fundamental information category which is common for all exposure components that includes location; broad land use; insurance status and metadata. 

Built environment information framework considered the attributes of fixed assets and associated activities information to assess the vulnerability from the impact of bushfires, natural hazards and malevolent acts. The buildings exposure considered usage, type, structural system, number of storeys, size, age, attachments, replacement value and contents value. The infrastructure sectors considered in the framework includes transportation, energy, communication, urban water supply, waste management, hazardous substances and major industries. The primary industries exposure considered agriculture, fishing, forestry and mining sectors.

The Business and Economics Exposure Framework consists of business definitions, assets and activities information which are deemed necessary for assessment of business continuity, disruption, resilience and recovery indicators in disaster management.

Stakeholder engagement roadshow is progressing in most of the states. This is to present the framework for endorsement and draw better utilisation strategies. Reliability information framework is also being prepared to maintain the data provenance and enable the systems to provide advice on reliability of the information for a specific use. The situational awareness of the exposure is critical to manage the economy and community safety.