Ingenieur Vol.79 July-Sept 2019 ingenieur 2019 july-sept | Page 31

D isaster risk is considered to be a function of hazard, exposure and vulnerability, expressed as the probability of loss of life, injury, and destroyed or damage d c api t al s to ck in a given period of time. A comprehensive risk assessment and analysis is required for better risk management. It must be evaluated with reference to a particular return period. Maps showing the areas that may be affected by landslides are a common tool used by authorities and decision makers to interact with the public and local community. Given the importance of addressing slope hazards and associated risks in the tropics, this project consortium was a significant development and propose s a sound methodological framework and operational need to holistically manage disaster risks in a changing environment. Figure 1.1: Location of the study area on index map of One of the most critical steps Cameron Highlands towards landslide risk analysis is the determination of landslide v u l n e r a b i l i t y. Vu l n e r a b i l i t y identifies the element at risk as well as and development of risk indices for critical evaluates its relationships with the hazard. The infrastructure in Malaysia. relationships relate to the potential damages a The proposed new methodological framework landslide could have over a specific element at for landslide vulnerability mapping was developed risk. Vulnerability can be defined as the degree in Cameron Highlands, Pahang. The chosen areas of loss to a given element at risk or set of covered various types of critical infrastructure or elements at risk resulting from the occurrence elements-at-risk (i.e. buildings, transportation of a natural phenomenon of a given magnitude networks, lifelines, es sential facilities, and expressed on a scale from 0 (no damage) to agriculture, economic activities and ecology) 1 (total damage). and the vulnerability of the people (fatalities or The study objectives were to identify issues injuries). The proposed study area consisted of related to vulnerability assessments and the risk different types of landslides at different scales. index for critical infrastructures; to assess and These conditions allowed development of a develop the parameters/indicators of landslide more generic approach for landslide vulnerability vulnerability assessment and the risk index of mapping and assessment. Figure 1.1 shows the critical infrastructures and assigning levels for location of the study area in Cameron Highlands, each parameter. The results of this study will Pahang. The study site at Ringlet and Lembah assist the construction industry to produce Bertam covered about 3.66 km 2 and 5.00 km 2 guidelines for landslide vulnerability assessments respectively. 29