Geography of the risks and environmental change: construction of methodologies for the study of vulnerability

• Grant number: 12/01008-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Young Investigators
• Start date: February 01, 2013
• End date: January 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Geography - Human Geography
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo José Marandola Junior
• Grantee: Eduardo José Marandola Junior
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/15175-3 - Phenomenology of public spaces: between security and the uncertainties of urban experience, BP.MS; 14/00847-6 - Vulnerability of place and risks in intra-urban space of Limeira (SP), BP.IC; 14/00933-0 - Vulnerability of place and risks in intra-urban space of Limeira (SP), BP.IC; 13/26107-6 - Vulnerability of place and risks in intra-urban space of Limeira (SP), BP.IC

Abstract

Index of vulnerability is a demand for public policy to identify areas and populations in the context of environmental change. Index and indicators must to incorporate the geography of the risk: the scales of production and distribution of hazards, their demographic and spatial heterogeneity. Provide indicators of increased capacity of disaggregation is necessary not only to achieve the down-scale analysis, but also to understand relationships not apparent at all scales, being able to perform aggregations, and disaggregation/re-aggregation. It helps identify groups and places most at risk and their ability to respond (vulnerability and resilience), increasing the efficiency and reach of public policy. Some vulnerability index gives too much weight to the income factor, masking other geographic and demographic factors that explain the vulnerability. On the other hand, lack empirical knowledge that allows multidimensionality describes vulnerability in different geographical and social contexts. This project aims to investigate vulnerability to risks and dangers associated with environmental change in the context of dense urban development in the State of São Paulo, aiming to build a methodology (mixed-methods perspective) for the study of vulnerability that proposition an index that is contextual and relative. The propose aims to deepen the comprehensive knowledge of the vulnerability in specific geographical areas, while seeking to develop methodologies to perform the up-scale, place (neighborhood, areas of cities), through the cities, regions, even the state. (AU)