Abstract:
Fast pace of urbanisation and population growth is an imminent
global challenge. The World Urbanisation Prospects of the United
Nations suggest that more than 75% of the global population will
concentrate in cities by the year 2050. The pressure of this
population rise, on our cities and the concerned natural systems
are bound to increase in the near future. Floods, cyclones,
earthquakes, wildfires and heat waves made the year 2015 a
devastating one for millions around the world, with 150 major
natural disasters being recorded. Asia bore the brunt of these
disasters with massive earthquakes in Nepal, floods in Chennai,
heat waves hitting South India and Typhoon Komen inundating the
Indian subcontinent, to cite a few examples. The changes in climate
and the failures of physical systems make our cities vulnerable to
disasters of various kinds leading to a physical collapse of that city.
This research paper, deals with the concept of disaster resilience in
this context and how this can be applied at the city, neighbourhood
as well as the individual level. The intent of this paper is to develop
a framework of strategies for an emergency response programme,
taking a case of the Indian city of Chennai. The initial approach
surveys in detail the way the city functions w.r.t the natural
systems and looks into the city’s growth through the ages.
The paper proposes an initial theory around the creation of an ideal
emergency response model consisting of physical and technological
networks that will come into play once a risk situation arises within
a city. This model was first done at a generic level where it can be
applied on to any city of any context. The major outcome of the
research is the development of this unique model so as to place it in
the city of Chennai considering its intricate labyrinth and functions.
