RiskCity and WebRiskCity: Data collection, display, and dissemination in a multi-risk training package

Within the activities of the United Nations University, the ITC School on Disaster GeoInformation Management (UNU-ITC DGIM) at the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) has developed WebRiskCity, an Open Source WebGIS platform for multi-risk assessment. The platform is a support to the RiskCity project, a GIS distance education course for multi-hazard risk assessment. The course has a guide book which gives the theoretical background behind the spatial data requirements for risk and hazard assessment procedures, generation of elements-at-risk databases, vulnerability assessment, qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methods, and risk evaluation. The architecture of WebRiskCity is based on a hierarchic structure similar to the original RiskCity dataset. Different switches for every component of the risk assessment have been defined, and through various menus, the user can select the options for each exercise. Tools for spatial analysis are implemented to compare maps at different scales and for on-line interpretations. A complete educational database was compiled, merging original layers of local authority and simulated data. The purpose of WebRiskCity is to be a tool of knowledge and education for risk assessment, as well as to provide a means of supporting non-academic staff, and non-governmental organizations and stakeholders, whose knowledge in risk management is vital, but often lacks a scientific base.