Systems Approach to Management of Disasters (ePub)

The main goal of this text is to introduce the systems approach to
disasters management community as an alternative approach that can
provide support for interdisciplinary activities involved in the
management of disasters. The systems approach draws on the
fields of operations research and economics to create skills in
solving complex management problems.

The text is organized into four parts. Part I provides an
introductory discussion of disaster management including an
overview of the main terms used. Part II is devoted to the
introduction of systems theory, mathematical formalization and
classification of methods. The material presented in this section
should be of practical relevance during the process of selecting an
appropriate tool for the solution of a problem. Part III is
technical in nature, providing a simulation approach and a detailed
description of system dynamics simulation. This section details two
areas of application: flood evacuation simulation, and disaster
risk assessment. Part IV ends with a chapter covering steps to
improve disaster management. Finally parts of the book can be used
as a tool for specialized short courses for practitioners. For
example a course on 'System analysis for emergency management
optimization' could be based on Chapters 3, 4 and parts of Chapter
6.

Included in the book is a CD with three computer programs Vensim
PLE, LINPRO, and COMPRO. Vensim PLE (Personal Learning Edition) is
state-of-the-art simulation software used for the implementation of
system dynamics simulation. The other two programs are: LINPRO, a
linear programming optimization tool; and COMPRO, for the
implementation of the multi-objective analysis tool of compromise
programming.