Table 12.4 Factors influencing the perception of risks/disasters
Factor
Low perception
High perception
Accident frequency
Rare/unknown
Frequent
Benefits
Perceived benefits
Unknown benefits
Catastrophic potential
Time-space dispersion
Time-space concentration
Comprehension
Comprehensible
Non comprehensible
Date of impacts
Immediate
Extended duration
Effect on children
Small
Big
Equity
Equitable impacts
Inequitable impacts
Exposure
Voluntary
Non voluntary
Familiarity
Familiar
Non familiar
Fear/terror
Not terrifying
Terrifying
Impact on future generation
None
Forecasted impacts
Institutional efforts
Involved
No involvement
Origin
Uncertain
Specific
Personal control
Controllable
No control
Personal involvement
Low
High
Publicity/media effect
Low
High
Reversibility
Reversible impacts
Irreversible impacts
Uncertainty
Scientific certainty
Scientific uncertainty
Victim identification
Statistical
Specific victims
Table 12.5 Risk hazard classification
Location
Point
Non-point
Stochastic
Extent
Local
Regional
National
Worldwide
Occurrence
Cyclical
Seasonal
Complex
Stochastic
Trigger
Slow
Sudden
Duration
Short
Average
Long
Reversibility
Low
High
Human impacts
Low
Medium
High
Economic impacts
Low
Medium
High
Sociocultural impacts
Low
Medium
High
Degree of individual control
Low
High
Degree of perception
Low
Medium
High
Evolution of perception
Underestimated
Overestimated
Vulnerability
Low
High
Evolution of vulnerability
Decreasing
Increasing
Forecasting
No
Partial
Yes
Prevention
No
Partial
Yes
12.6 Measuring Disasters
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