title: Natural Hazard Management from a Coevolutionary Perspective: Exposure and Policy Response in the European Alps.
abstract: A coevolutionary perspective is adopted to understand the dynamics of exposure to mountain hazards in the European Alps. A spatially explicit, object-based temporal assessment of elements at risk to mountain hazards (river floods, torrential floods, and debris flows) in Austria and Switzerland is presented for the period from 1919 to 2012. The assessment is based on two different data sets: (1) hazard information adhering to legally binding land use planning restrictions and (2) information on building types combined from different national-level spatial data. We discuss these transdisciplinary dynamics and focus on economic, social, and institutional interdependencies and interactions between human and physical systems. Exposure changes in response to multiple drivers, including population growth and land use conflicts. The results show that whereas some regional assets are associated with a strong increase in exposure to hazards, others are characterized by a below-average level of exposure. The spatiotemporal results indicate relatively stable hot spots in the European Alps. These results coincide with the topography of the countries and with the respective range of economic activities and political settings. Furthermore, the differences between management approaches as a result of multiple institutional settings are discussed. A coevolutionary framework widens the explanatory power of multiple drivers to changes in exposure and risk and supports a shift from structural, security-based policies toward an integrated, risk-based natural hazard management system.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Mountain Risk Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks, Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, and Institute of Geography, University of Bern.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Röthlisberger
authors.affiliation: Institute for Mountain Risk Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thaler
authors.affiliation: Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks, Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, and Institute of Geography, University of Bern.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zischg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geography, University of Bern.
authors.forename: Margreth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keiler
keywords: European Alps; coevolution; exposure; natural hazard management; path dependency