Experiences and Results from Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Utilizing Qualitative Information to Formulate Disaster Risk Reduction Measures for Coastal Regions

Publication: Article
Citation: Martinez, G., Armaroli, C., Costas, S., Harley, D. M., Paolisso, M., (2018), Experiences and results from interdisciplinary collaboration: Utilizing qualitative information to formulate disaster risk reduction measures for coastal regions, Coastal Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2017.09.010

The idealistic endeavor of a universal education, as was conveyed for centuries by research institutions, is passé. It needed to be replaced by two scientific disciplines: The social sciences and humanities and the natural sciences and engineering sciences. However it soon became clear that cooperation is necessary between these disciplines to find answers to complex questions. The field of ecosystem research in particular shows how an overview of both disciplines is imperative, as interdisciplinary cooperation of specialists can shed light on many different aspects to the whole system. In the project RISC-KIT, interdisciplinary research was applied to develop disaster risk reduction measures in coastal regions. The investigation was part of the FP7-project RISC-KIT (Resilience-Increasing Strategies for Coasts – toolkit). The article is available for download.

The article illustrates both the potential and challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration amongst researchers from the social sciences/humanities and the natural sciences/engineering in formulating disaster risk reduction measures for coastal regions. The corresponding author, Ecologic Institute's Dr. Grit Martinez, shares her experiences of working across different scientific and engineering disciplines in the EU project RISC-KIT to co-produce disaster risk reduction measures suitable for specific regional and local contexts, in this case two coastal study areas in Europe (Porto Garibaldi, Italy and Rio Formosa, Portugal).

An overview of the historic cultural origins of scientific disciplines is first presented, explaining the historical fragmentation of scientific knowledge into natural and social sciences and its associated challenges for prior disaster risk studies – and how the current state of an interdisciplinary approach has emerged. This is followed by an analysis of interdisciplinary collaboration, drawing on the experience and data collected (both quantitative and qualitative) from the two case study areas. The article concludes with suggestions to further overcome the segregation of disciplines within disaster risk studies and projects. The authors found that qualitative data provides understanding of knowledge, values, and behaviors for institutional and non-institutional stakeholders in formulating appropriate risk reduction measures to increase resilience in a local context – and that such data works “hand in hand” with quantitative information. Furthermore, the collection of qualitative data by researchers of the natural science and engineering disciplines has the potential to build bridges between disciplines and to stimulate further investigations, as in this case, to explain contradictions in human behavior when managing risk.

UnDisciplined

The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating?!

7 - 9 June 2023
Dr. Grit Martinez

Publication:Article

This paper deals with how culture is expressed through the interplay of socially, politically, and economically driven processes and practices in place-based biophysical contexts as well as the role played by narrative expressions in the formation of coastal risk management, knowledge and action. It draws upon ethnographic, comparative, and historical approaches to understand how culture frames what we know and how we respond differently to risks.

Coastal Risk Cultures

Local and Regional Formation of Knowledge and Action

Year 2021

Publication:Book

There is a growing impetus among policy makers and practitioners to support and empower capacities of communities under changing climatic conditions. Despite this there is little systematic understanding of why approaches work at local levels or not and what makes some communities resilient and others less so. Authors addressing this shortcoming by providing illustrative case studies and assessment tools from Europe’s North, East and South helping to bridge the gap between climate change policies, decision-making and the cultural traits of communities in Europe.

Culture and Climate Resilience: Perspectives from Europe

Year 2021

Publication:Report

Introduction to the RISC-KIT Web Based Management Guide for DRR in European Coastal Zones

Year 2017

Publication:Article

This study presents information about the storms in 1872 and 1904 that occurred along the coast of Scania that is analysed with respect to the evolution of risk awareness, vulnerability, and societies' resilience over time. The article, to which Dr. Grit Martinez from Ecologic Institute contributed, is available for download.

The Role of Historical Storm Events in Risk Analysis

A study of the coastal flood events in 1872 and 1904 along the South and East Coast of Scania, Sweden, Vatten.

Year 2017

Publication:Report

This Synthesis Report provides an overview of the achievements, lessons learned and challenges identified through the RISC-KIT project activities, including the development and application of the tools at ten case study sites in a range of coastal regions across Europe. The lessons learned are then fed into a series of recommendations for improved DRR for Europe and beyond. The resulting insights and accompanying recommendations have been considered in relation to their relevance to EU and international processes that both directly and indirectly address coastal DRR. The RISC-KIT Synthesis Report is available for download.

RISC-KIT Synthesis Report

Year 2017

Publication:Policy Brief

Europe's coastlines are a product of human cultivation. Since settling on the coast, humans have engineered the coastal characteristics to suit the purposes of states, the economy and human recreation. At the time of the Treaties of Rome, Europe had just emerged from the devastating aftermath of the Second World War with a 'great hunger' for a liberal life style, leisure activities and travel. The diverse and scenic views of Europe's coasts offered the ideal destination for such endeavors. Soon, a rapid coastal urbanization coupled with a steady increase in mass tourism emerged. Spurred by the trust in technical and engineering capacities, new bold attitudes about building and living on the sea often interfered with the natural sediment transport of coastal systems, leading to erosion. Today, more than 42% of Europeans live in coastal regions with coastal infrastructure worth about 959 billion EURO. Recent and historic high-impact storm events have demonstrated that weather events pose a significant risk and can immobilize cities and countries. The FP7 project, Resilience-Increasing Strategies for Coasts – toolKIT (RISC-KIT), recently issued a policy brief to communicate lessons learned and to support the dissemination of tools, which coastal managers to improve coastal resilience in Europe and elsewhere.

Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies in EU Coastal Areas

Recommendation for EU, National, and Regional Policy Makers

Year 2017

Publication:Report

The RISC-KIT Web-based Management Guide is one of the five RISC-KIT tools designed to highlight key principles recommended for the planning of local DRR measures using examples from the case studies and elsewhere to provide practical illustrations. It is intended to give guidance to coastal managers in Europe and those facing similar challenges beyond the region as well as other groups concerned with coastal management (i.e. coastal resource users, technical and scientific experts and policy makers). The guide includes prevention, mitigation, protection and preparedness measures with recommendations for their use in various socio-economic, cultural and environmental settings. The RISC-KIT Web-based Management Guide is available for download.

Web-based Management Guide

Year 2017

Publication:Video

This movie gives an overview of the five tools developed within the EU-funded collaborative FP7 project RISC-KIT: 1) a Storm Impact Database, 2) a Coastal Risk Assessment Framework, 3) a Web-based Management Guide, 4) a Hotspot tool and Early Warning System and 5) a Multi-Criteria Analysis Guide. These products will enhance forecasting, prediction and early warning capabilities, improve the assessment of long-term coastal risk and optimize the mix of prevention, mitigation and preparedness measures. The movie, animated by Ecologic Institute's visual designer Beáta Vargová, is available via Ecologic Institute's YouTube channel.

An Introduction to RISC-KIT

Year 2017

Language: English
Authorship: Dr. Grit Martinez

Clara Armaroli (University of Ferrara)

Susana Costas (Centro de Investigaçao Marinha e Ambiental (CIMA))

Mitchell D. Harley (UNSW Sydney)
Published in: Coastal Engineering
Published by: Elsevier, International
Year: 2018
Dimension: 11 pp.
ISSN: 0378-3839
DOI: 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2017.09.010
Project: Resilience-Increasing Strategies for Coasts – toolKIT (RISC-KIT)
Project ID: 2729
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

Highlights
Abstract
Keywords
1. Introduction

    1.1. History of disciplinary work in science
    1.2. The challenge of interdisciplinary work in disaster risk reduction
    1.3. Disaster risk reduction measures and society

2. Case study areas, methodology and findings

    2.1. General approach used in the case studies
    2.2. Porto Garibaldi, Italy
        2.2.1. Methodology
        2.2.2. Findings
    2.3. Ria Formosa, Portugal
        2.3.1. Methodology
        2.3.2. Findings
    2.4. Methodologies used in the case studies and findings

3. Experiences in interdisciplinary collaboration

    3.1. Perception of collecting qualitative data
        3.1.1. SSH
        3.1.2. NS
    3.2. Challenges of processing qualitative data
        3.2.1. SSH
        3.2.2. NS
    3.3. Potentials for interdisciplinary collaboration
        3.3.1. SSH
        3.3.2. NS

4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
Keywords: Culture + Ecology

Water

Interdisciplinary, social science and humanities, natural science and engineering, disaster risk reduction measures, culture, values, risk perception

Porto Garibaldi, Ria Formosa, coastal zones

Further Links

RISC-KIT project website

PublicationPolicy BriefDisaster Risk Reduction Strategies in EU Coastal Areas

Martinez, Grit; Ap van Dongeren 2017: Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies in EU Coastal Areas - Recommendation for EU, National, and Regional Policy Makers. RISC-KIT Policy Brief.

PublicationVideoAn Introduction to RISC-KIT

RISC-KIT Consortium 2016: An Introduction to RISC-KIT. Animated Video. Online: https://youtu.be/VcwKA2nCIk4

PublicationBook SectionRISC-KIT: Resilience-Increasing Strategies for Coasts – toolKIT

Van Dongeren, A., Ciavola, P., Viavattene, C., De Kleermaeker, S., Martinez, G., Ferreira, O., Costa C., R. McCall, 2014. RISC-KIT: Resilience-Increasing Strategies for Coasts–toolkit. In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal... Read more