Evaluating hazard, vulnerability, and capacity through local knowledge for volcano risk reduction.

Area of Science:

• Earth Sciences
• Geology
• Disaster Risk Management

Background:

• Indonesia's location on active plate boundaries results in high geological disaster risk.
• Mount Merapi, an active volcano, frequently erupts, posing a substantial threat to surrounding communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess community hazard, vulnerability, and capacity on Mount Merapi's slopes using Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS).
• To integrate local spatial knowledge (LSK) with Geographic Information System (GIS) for enhanced disaster risk assessment and intervention.

Main Methods:

• Employed a locale-based mapping approach integrating hazard, vulnerability, and capacity variables.
• Utilized the Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS) methodology.

Main Results:

• 80% of households face high to very high hazard levels from volcanic ash and hot clouds.
• Community vulnerability is varied, with 16% in the high category, while nearly half possess very low capacity.
• Local Spatial Knowledge (LSK) is crucial for understanding natural signs, evacuation routes, and traditional mitigation.

Conclusions:

• Integrating LSK with GIS technology improves disaster risk assessment accuracy and intervention strategies.
• Digital technology enhances public risk awareness, but preservation of local values remains important.