Research Mentor(s)

Flower, Aquila

Description

The Pacific Northwest region of North America is a diverse and beautiful landscape created by the active geological processes of this area. Earthquakes, tsunamis, glaciers, and volcanoes have shaped this environment and these forces continue to do so. Oregon and Washington combined are projected to grow by roughly 2.5 million residents by the year 2030, making those two states one of the fastest growing regions in the nation. Both states have been attracting significant foreign and domestic investment and economic activity over the past decade. The high level of geologic activity coupled with rapid growth of this area seems as though it is a natural recipe for disaster, however in my line of study we believe there is no such thing as a natural disaster. Rather, there are natural hazards, but a disaster only occurs when these hazards have not been considered or prepared for by people. So how do we as a society prepare? To begin addressing this question I conducted a two part series of GIS analyses to aid in planning for resilient communities and efforts in emergency management and disaster preparedness. The first series shows how much land, based off current levels of density, will be necessary for these projected new residents in 2030. The next series shows areas that, due to high exposure to violent levels of seismic activity, presence of liquefiable soils, and the threat of tsunami inundation, are not suitable for high levels of development and investment. Combining the results of this analysis indicates what areas should be targeted for future development, and which should be avoided. This is the first step to thoughtful planning and active efforts with which we can build a resilient Pacific Northwest region that continues to be a magnet for growth and opportunity.

Document Type

Event

Start Date

17-5-2017 9:00 AM

End Date

17-5-2017 12:00 PM

Department

Environmental Studies

Genre/Form

student projects; posters

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Natural disasters--Risk management--Northwest, Pacific; Emergency management; Preparedness

Geographic Coverage

Northwest, Pacific

Type

Image

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this documentation for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

Share

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May 17th, 9:00 AM May 17th, 12:00 PM

Planning for Resilient Communities in the Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest region of North America is a diverse and beautiful landscape created by the active geological processes of this area. Earthquakes, tsunamis, glaciers, and volcanoes have shaped this environment and these forces continue to do so. Oregon and Washington combined are projected to grow by roughly 2.5 million residents by the year 2030, making those two states one of the fastest growing regions in the nation. Both states have been attracting significant foreign and domestic investment and economic activity over the past decade. The high level of geologic activity coupled with rapid growth of this area seems as though it is a natural recipe for disaster, however in my line of study we believe there is no such thing as a natural disaster. Rather, there are natural hazards, but a disaster only occurs when these hazards have not been considered or prepared for by people. So how do we as a society prepare? To begin addressing this question I conducted a two part series of GIS analyses to aid in planning for resilient communities and efforts in emergency management and disaster preparedness. The first series shows how much land, based off current levels of density, will be necessary for these projected new residents in 2030. The next series shows areas that, due to high exposure to violent levels of seismic activity, presence of liquefiable soils, and the threat of tsunami inundation, are not suitable for high levels of development and investment. Combining the results of this analysis indicates what areas should be targeted for future development, and which should be avoided. This is the first step to thoughtful planning and active efforts with which we can build a resilient Pacific Northwest region that continues to be a magnet for growth and opportunity.

 

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