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This article discusses the USGS's research agenda for natural hazards risk reduction and management, including enhancing the use of scientific information, enabling decision-making with spatial data, and aligning incentives for public interest.
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Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges USGS Natural Hazards Science in the Coming Decade Dr. Mark Myers March 7, 2007 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey
A National Framework for Natural Hazards Risk Reduction and Management Developing a Research Agenda • Enhancing the use of scientific information to reduce societal vulnerability and risk from hazards; • Identifying how spatial data can most effectively enable and empower decision-making at the local, state and national levels; and • Addressing the alignment of incentives and predicted behavior at both the national and local levels to advance public interest.
Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction National Science and Technology Council # 1 – Provide hazard and disaster information where and when it is needed. # 2 – Understand the natural processes that produce hazards. # 3 – Develop hazard mitigation strategies and technologies. # 4 – Recognize and reduce vulnerability of interdependent critical infrastructure. # 5 – Assess disaster resilience using standard methods. # 6 – Promote risk-wise behavior.
Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges:USGS Science in the Coming Decade • Understanding Ecosystems and Predicting Ecosystem Change • Ensuring the Nation’s Economic and Environmental Future • The Role of the Environment and Wildlife in Human Health • A Warning System for Environmental Risk to Public Health in America • A Water Census of the United States • Quantifying, Forecasting, and Securing Freshwater for America’s Future • A National Hazards, Risk, and Resilience Assessment Program • Ensuring the Long-Term Health and Wealth of the Nation • Climate Variability and Change • Clarifying the Record and Assessing the Consequences • Energy and Minerals for America’s Future • Providing a Scientific Foundation for Decision-Makers
A National Hazards, Risk, and Resilience Assessment ProgramEnsuring the Long-Term Health and Wealth of the Nation • Strategic Science Actions: • Expand and modernize USGS monitoring and communications capabilities. • Increase research into the causes and consequences of: coastal erosion earthquakes floods geomagnetic storms landslides tsunamis volcanoes wildfires zoonotic diseases • Enhance understanding of the linkages among natural hazards, the environment, climate, and society, and ways the climate influences the frequency and intensity of natural-hazard events. • Form an intra-bureau hazards working group of scientists. Avian Influenza Emerging Wildlife Disease Fire Science
A National Hazards, Risk, and Resilience Assessment ProgramEnsuring the Long-Term Health and Wealth of the Nation • Strategic Science Actions: • Develop a core of USGS and partner researchers focusing on vulnerability science to: • develop local, regional and national indicators and visualization tools. • conduct case studies to assess vulnerability and resilience of communities, ecosystems and economies. • Develop a national risk-monitoring program. • Create a bureau-wide disaster assistance strategy. • Develop communication strategies and decision-support products that focus on understanding societal risk and resilience to natural hazards. San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
Achieving the Vision:Extending Research Through Partnerships • Build and strengthen the internal workforce through the development of external partnerships in environmental information science. • Identify and leverage national and international efforts that promote comprehensive data and information management and foster greater sharing of knowledge and expertise.
