Concept of Exposure

SCI04 Lecture 4
By the end of this discussion will be able to:
• explain the definition of exposure based on the UNISDR
Terminology;
• identify elements exposed to hazards and give examples
for each types; and
• differentiate between tangible and intangible exposed
elements

Learning Outcomes
United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
• Roles:
• coordination of disaster reduction
• ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities
• activities in socio‐economic and humanitarian fields
 Exposure
• The UNISDR defines exposure as
people, property, systems and
other elements present in hazard
zones that are thereby subject to
potential loss. (UNISDR, 2009)
1 “people, property, systems and
other elements”
• Exposure involves specific elements
which we must be able to identify and
give a name to. Elements may be
tangible or intangible.
2 “present in hazard zones”

• Elements should be located within an area

and duration of time during which a
specific hazard event or set of hazard events
can occur
“subject to potential loss”
• Elements should have value or
importance assigned to them for it
to be subject to potential loss.

3
 Dwellings or Public and Transport
households and System
communities Buildings and
Human Beings
structures

Elements Exposed to Hazard

Natural or man-made; tangible or intangible

Agricultural
Economic
Public facilities and commodities
Activities
infrastructure assets Environmental
Assets
According to a report, 8 of
the 10 world cities most
exposed to natural hazards
are in the Philippines
and more than half of the
100 cities most exposed to
earthquakes, storms, and
other disasters are in four
Asian nations. (Philippine
Star, 2014).
Ten Cities Most at Risk
1. Port Vila in Vanuatu
2. Tuguegarao, Cagayan
3. Lucena, Quezon
4. Manila
5. San Fernando, Pampanga
6. Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija
7. Batangas
8. Taipei
9. San Carlos (Pampanga?)
10. Naga, Bicol
Study from Verisk Maplecroft, 2014
 Reference
Section 4.1 of Guide book
Session 4: Elements at Risk by
Cees van Westen, Nanette Kingma
and Lorena Montoya
 How is exposure defined in the
reference?
• All objects, persons, animals, activities and
processes that may be adversely affected by
hazardous phenomena, in a particular area,
either directly or indirectly. This includes
buildings, facilities, population, livestock,
economic activities, public services, and
environment.
 Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
(ADPC) Classification of Exposure

Physical Elements Societal Elements

Economic Elements Environmental
Elements
Tangible and Intangible Elements

Tangible elements at risk are those things

that can be identified, localized, mapped and
quantified.
Intangible elements are those things that
are very difficult to quantify or map, as they
do not have a particular spatial dimension.