Page 171 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Mitigating the risks

Advanced technology will be essential in addressing public will help minimize casualties and property damage
these risks. Big data analysis can be powered by networks by enabling timely evacuations.
of sensors to monitor geological and climatic changes and
identify related hazards. Artificial intelligence technologies 5. Conclusion
can build risk assessment models, improve the accuracy of A global view of Earth from orbit reveals dense clusters
early warnings, simulate disaster scenarios to support the of city lights concentrated in coastal areas and along
development of response plans, and provide predictive rivers. These illuminated regions symbolize economic
data for urban planning and emergency preparedness. development, but they also highlight areas of extreme
In addition, satellite systems enable rapid, cost-effective vulnerability to natural disasters. Disasters in such areas
monitoring of large areas and facilitate the smooth extend far beyond economic and environmental damage.
dissemination of information during disasters. They impose an enormous human cost through immediate

In many industries, particularly in computer and impacts, followed by secondary crises such as disease and
knowledge-based sectors, transportation costs are minimal famine. These cascading consequences often heighten
or negligible. As a result, these industries do not require tensions among people and even between nations, further
proximity to coastal areas. Instead, they can be relocated exacerbating the disaster’s aftermath. To mitigate these risks
to less-populated inland cities that are safer from natural and reduce the severity of disasters, all nations with extensive
disasters, such as tsunamis. This relocation not only promotes and densely populated coastal areas – as well as those
development in inland cities but also reduces the risk of located near tectonically active zones – must act swiftly.
disruption to these industries caused by catastrophic events. This proactive approach involves: (i) identifying areas at
For example, Guizhou, in western China, is well suited for greatest risk; (ii) developing risk reduction and mitigation
large-scale data-storage systems due to its favorable climate. measures; and (iii) implementing these measures without
delay. This is particularly urgent given the escalating and
However, it remains challenging to convey both the unpredictable consequences of global warming.
severity of these risks and the potential mitigation strategies
to governments and industrial investors. The Chinese Reducing the risks of urbanization requires the dispersal
government, for example, has not prioritized shifting its of the urban population, as densely populated areas face
regional economic development plans to safer inland areas, the highest potential loss of life when disasters strike. It
such as western China’s Tibetan Plateau. Instead, in 2019, is also essential to disperse economic centers of gravity to
it reaffirmed its focus on developing Guangdong, Hong prevent the devastation of an entire industrial sector by a
Kong, and Macau – coastal cities at low elevations – as key single disaster. Governments should discourage or prohibit
economic regions, with plans to expand even larger urban development in areas prone to tsunamis and earthquakes.
agglomerations in the future. The urban component of long-term government
The ongoing expansion of coastal cities must account planning should increasingly shift economic focus to
for the potential threat posed by natural disasters, such inland areas located in tectonically stable zones to reduce
as tsunamis and hurricanes. To address these risks, the dependence on ports. By controlling population
comprehensive risk assessments should be carried out density in high-risk coastal areas, distributing residential,
during the early stages of urban planning to identify commercial, and industrial centers to more suitable
high-risk areas. The primary goal of this analysis is to locations, and encouraging migration to inland areas,
avoid constructing critical infrastructure and major mitigation measures can become both easier to implement
residential development in areas vulnerable to disasters. and more effective. These measures include:
At the same time, governments must establish and • Optimizing transport network to provide multiple
enforce strict building standards and codes to ensure rapid evacuation routes
that new development projects are adequately resistant to • Investing in efficient, high-capacity flood control
earthquakes and tsunamis. Key measures include: (i) raising and drainage systems to improve a city’s ability to
the 1 floor of buildings above anticipated flood levels; (ii) withstand floods; and
st
using earthquake-resistant materials and designs; and • Restoring and protecting natural ecosystems, such
(iii) designing structures that facilitate rapid evacuation as mangroves and wetlands that function as natural
in emergencies. In addition, it is crucial to establish an breakwaters, and forests on sloping land that reduce
efficient and reliable tsunami early warning system. This the risks of landslides and flash floods.
system should incorporate seismic monitoring stations Governments and industries must adopt a holistic
and sea-level monitoring equipment to detect early signs approach that considers multiple interconnected factors to
of a tsunami. Immediate dissemination of warnings to the design safer, more resilient cities.

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 5 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.5320