title: Site selection criteria for sheltering after earthquakes: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Proper shelter site selection is necessary for long-term welfare of earthquake affected people. This study aims to explore the criteria that need to be considered after earthquakes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through a systematic review, 273 articles found that were published till April 2014. Among these, seven articles have been selected and analyzed for the criteria that they introduced for sheltering site selection after earthquakes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 27 proposed criteria, accessibility and proximity to homes of affected people were stressed in all the papers. Moreover, seven other criteria were the same in most of the papers including suitable size, suitable distance from hazardous areas, geological hazards and land slope, suitable distance from medical centers, water supply and Security. We categorized all the mentioned criteria in six main categories. Size and location, disaster risk reduction, relief and rescue facilities, feasibility of the site, environmental and social aspects are the main categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selection and applying proper criteria for shelter site selection after earthquakes is a multi-disciplinary task. The decision needs relevant models and/or tools. Geographic Information System (GIS) is a useful tool for this purpose. Key words: Disaster, earthquake, shelter, site selection, systematic review.
authors: Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Disaster and Emergency Health, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Ahmad
authors: A
authors: Soltani
authors: Department of Disaster & Emergency Health, Iran's National Institute of Health Research; Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Ardalan
authors: Department of Remote Sensing & GIS, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Darvishi Boloorani
authors: Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Future Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: AliAkbar
authors: A
authors: Haghdoost
authors: Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Javad
authors: MJ
authors: Hosseinzadeh-Attar
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