Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0258-9774

Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

PhD

College

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Department

Not Listed

Committee Chair

Michael Strager

Committee Member

Hodjat Ghadimi

Committee Member

Peter Butler

Committee Member

Aaron Maxwell

Committee Member

Maneesh Sharma

Abstract

Disaster Risk Assessment in the Context of Social Justice Using Geospatial Data Analytics

Behrang Bidadian

In recent decades, urban areas have witnessed a rise in floods which have posed a significant threat to human life and wealth, due to the effects of global warming. While researchers have conducted extensive studies on natural disaster risk focusing on components such as hazard, exposure, and vulnerability, certain aspects of this field have remained inadequately understood. To fulfill this need, the primary objective of this dissertation was to enhance our understanding of flood risk in urban areas, considering it a crucial example of natural disasters, within the context of social and environmental justice discourses. The research was structured into three studies each to address a major research question and investigate a specific hypothesis.

The focus of the first study, explained in chapter three, was to analyze flood exposure, social vulnerability, and risk distribution in Houston, Texas and Charleston, West Virginia to develop a comprehensive risk index and identify spatial patterns and associations with disadvantaged communities. The second study, outlined in chapter four, investigated the long-lasting consequences of historical social discrimination practices affecting flood risk by examining the relationship between such efforts and the distribution of green infrastructure and impervious surfaces in Houston. The third study, presented in chapter five, explored the relevance of various factors pertaining to hazard, exposure, and social vulnerability in relation to flood risk, focusing on their correlation with physical damages caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston.

The findings from these studies emphasize the concentration of risk in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods, the enduring effects of historical segregation and divestment on flood risk, and the significance of factors such as drainage ability of soils, population density, and development pattern in determining flood loss. The integration of geospatial analyses, statistical methods, and machine learning techniques provided valuable insights into the complex relationship between flood risk and social, environmental, and historical factors in urban areas.

Future research can utilize the methodologies established in this study to examine other urban areas with diverse characteristics. By incorporating projections based on climate change scenarios, future studies can further explore the implications of alterations in the hydrological cycles on flood risk. It is also essential to consider the long-term effects of mitigation measures and adaptive strategies to develop a comprehensive understanding of their effectiveness. By undertaking these avenues of investigation, researchers can expand the scope of knowledge and contribute to developing informed policies and strategies to address climate-related disaster risks in various urban contexts.

Embargo Reason

Publication Pending

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Available for download on Friday, July 18, 2025

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