@conference {bnh-6330, title = {Post-Disaster Decision Making in Road Infrastructure Recovery Projects - An Interview Study with Practitioners in Queensland}, booktitle = {Australian \& New Zealand Disaster \& Emergency Management Conference}, year = {2019}, month = {06/2019}, abstract = {

The repair and reconstruction of road infrastructure plays a vital role in the recovery process after a disaster event and will be affected by the decision-making processes adopted by asset owners. The objective of this study is to understand how road asset owners assess and prioritise road reconstruction projects in order to identify how decision making could be improved in real-life post-disaster scenarios. This paper presents results of in-depth interviews with road infrastructure practitioners in Queensland, on decision making in a post-disaster context, using a case study based approach. A number of challenges were identified including the lack of a common decision making platform, the lack of focus on the socio-ecological impacts during decision making and the importance of community engagement during the reconstruction process.

}, keywords = {Decision making, Disaster management, Natural hazards, Reconstruction, Road infrastructure}, url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333842851_Post-Disaster_Decision_Making_in_Road_Infrastructure_Recovery_Projects_-_An_Interview_Study_with_Practitioners_in_Queensland}, author = {Akvan Gajanayake and Tehmina Khan and Kevin Zhang} } @conference {bnh-7445, title = {Rural housing resilience in India: Is it reliant on appropriate technology or labour skills?}, booktitle = {Sustainable Futures Conference}, year = {2016}, month = {09/2016}, address = {Nairobi, Kenya}, abstract = {

The aim of this paper is to identify key approaches to housing reconstruction in India which demonstrate success in the: i) (re)building of resilient houses, ii) enabling of house-hold autonomy, and iii) enhancing of artisanal skills over the longer term (i.e. greater than 7 years since disaster). With the rising frequency and complexity of natural hazards, the need for resilience to be {\textquoteright}built in{\textquoteright} to housing reconstruction projects is urgent. To achieve the research aim, a mixed methods methodology and {\textquoteright}case study{\textquoteright} approach is used. Four good practice reconstruction projects in India are selected for comparative analysis, these are: i) Hodko and Patanka in Gujarat (post 2001 earthquake), and ii) Orlaha and Puraini in Bihar (post 2008 floods). This paper discusses findings from empirical investigations conducted using an analytical lifespan framework with the timescale tools reflecting an Input, Output, Results and Impact examination. The findings suggest that for reconstruction to be successful and, importantly, effective in terms of housing resilience the {\textquoteright}process{\textquoteright} must support the confidence of local households, use/employ the local labour fource and the up-skilling of these builders (who may also need on-going support for linkages to livelihood)

}, keywords = {Housing, Reconstruction, recover, resilience}, url = {https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Rural-housing-resilience-in-India\%3A-Is-it-reliant-on-Vahanvati-Beza/4fed0ed10a0f077fba67e1d28195aea0677097f8}, author = {Mittul Vahanvati and Beau Beza} } @conference {bnh-7446, title = {Reviving people{\textquoteright}s trust in Bamboo technology: A case-study of Orlaha settlement reconstruction in Bihar, after the 2008 Kosi floods}, booktitle = {World Bamboo Congress}, year = {2015}, month = {09/2015}, address = {Damyang, Korea}, abstract = {

There is a growing body of literature suggesting significance of technical and social guidance during post-disaster housing reconstruction projects. Social process during reconstruction includes considerations of community participation or owner-driven approaches. Technical process includes considerations for achieving a balance between the world-views of beneficiaries and facilitators in terms of multi-hazard safe house form, material, technology, and its cultural, environmental and financial appropriateness. Research suggests that it is the approaches/ process to reconstruction implementation, on which, relies the long-term effectiveness of housing reconstruction projects at imparting disaster-resilience to at-risk communities (Barenstein \& Iyengar 2010; Jha et al. January 2010; Lizarralde et al. 2010; Lyons, Schilderman \& Boano 2010; Schilderman \& Lyons 2011). However, empirical evidence suggests that despite the benefits of and socio-technical support by civil society agencies for re-adoption of traditional materials and technologies for multi-hazard safe housing reconstruction, it often proves challenging. This paper focuses on the technological and social process of reconstruction in the settlement of Orlaha in Triveniganj block in Supaul district of the Indian state of Bihar, post 2008 Kosi floods. The paper presents preliminary observations from two field-works that were conducted during November-December months in 2012 (Stage-1) and 2014 (Stage-2). The paper examines whether the process of housing reconstruction enabled reviving household{\textquoteright}s faith in bamboo {\textendash} a local traditional material for achieving multi-hazard resistance as well as met their aspirations? The research asks questions such as; what is the condition of housing, 5 years since completion of reconstruction? How satisfied are households with their housing? What are the reasons for successful uptake or failure? The paper examines whether and how a convergence can be achieved between technology and social perception. To this end, the paper{\textquoteright}s findings indicate that post-disaster context offers a small window of opportunity during which local households are open for changing their perceptions for achieving multi-hazard resistant housing, provided the technical assistance is accompanied with social assistance.

}, keywords = {community, Flood, Reconstruction, recover, resilience}, url = {http://toc.proceedings.com/28028webtoc.pdf}, author = {Mittul Vahanvati and Munir Vahanvati} }