Application of geoecological vulnerability assessment to prevention of emergencies

Abstract

The articles analyses prerequisites of development and introduction of modern approach to a problem of the ensuring preventive safety based on methodology of geoecological vulnerability assessment to emergency situations in Ukraine.

It is examined that experience of realization of vulnerability assessment to emergency situations in Ukraine is limited to researches in the field of the social and economic analysis of emergency situations of natural and technogenic character for today. It is necessary to provide active actions in the field of harmonization and the subsequent implementation of the normative legal acts, methodological approaches and separate standards aimed at the development and strengthening of potential of counteraction in emergency situations at the expense of geoecological vulnerability assessment application.

Comparative analysis of an “emergency situation” and “geosystem” characteristics in terms of vulnerability conception allowing to conclude that adaptation of the conception in Ukraine can effectively be solved by the use of research tools of constructive geography and geoecology. Constructive and geographical approach is a backbone to integration of information, analytical and decision-making processes on a uniform methodological basis. The elaboration of the methodology of estimation of geoecological vulnerability to emergency situations can serve as a powerful impulse for development. The analysis and generalization of various techniques and approaches to an assessment of vulnerability show expediency of development of the generalized integrated methodology. Obligatory elements of an assessment of geoecological vulnerability are: landscape maps as a basis for spatial localization; a set of estimated criteria and indicators in total the landscapes defining degree of vulnerability to emergency situations; analysis of the structurally functional organization of landscape complexes; estimation and classification of landscape complexes by vulnerability degree to emergency situations; development of geoecological recommendations on strengthening of coping capacity  to vulnerability.

It is concluded in the article that introduction of geoecological vulnerability assessment methodology will provide transition to a qualitatively new level of management of emergency situations prevention, mitigation of risks and consequences for the account of transition from the model based on collecting, documenting and synthesis of data on emergency situations to the analysis of geoecological prerequisites of their emergence, identification of natural mechanisms of self-control and development of preventive measures.