Living in Mansions and Evacuation Vulnerability

Relationship between Residence Height and Elderly Demographics, Kita ward, Osaka City

Abstract

Hazard maps are commonly used as tools to indicate vulnerabilities of specific areas and provide information on risks such as poor infrastructure and fire hazards. However, potential risks with regard to living conditions have often been overlooked. In urban areas, where residents live in high-rise buildings, residing at such heights is considered a vulnerability factor for urban risk. This research focuses on the elderly population living in Kita ward, Osaka City, and aims to understand the relationship between the height of residence and the age of residents using GIS mapping. Findings show that by including the height of residence as a factor, risk index is significantly different, suggesting that planning of disaster prevention should not only consider housing condition but also the height of residence.