Improving preparedness for rapid-onset hazards such as tsunamis has been identified as an enduring challenge due to the inherent unpredictability and limited lead time for response, including evacuation. The concurrent hazards, especially prolonged ones such as the COVID-19 pandemic, further aggravate this challenge by posing complex and integrated risk scenarios. Mainly, as the guidelines for mitigating the risks associated with these hazards are often found competing, disaster management professionals find it challenging to accommodate specific guidelines, especially public health concerns, when responding to rapid-onset hazards. Considering this knowledge gap in the guidelines for managing tsunami evacuation and pandemic, this research aims to develop a comprehensive framework to optimise tsunami evacuation in the context of a pandemic outbreak. To achieve this aim, the study used a spatial connectivity-based approach to examine the spatial patterns that facilitate tsunami evacuation and disease transmission during a pandemic. Key elements of analysing the spatial patterns were identified by reviewing the literature on both hazards. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain qualitative insights for the formulation of spatial scenarios for the analysis. The spatial scenarios were focused on identifying the spatial patterns that facilitate tsunami evacuation in the context of disease transmission hotspots in Sri Lanka. Three case studies of tsunami-affected areas in Sri Lanka were used to develop scenarios for analysing spatial patterns. The spatial patterns were analysed using the weighted centrality approach, and a composite spatial scenario was designed to deeply understand the characteristics of spatial patterns linking with the centrality measures used. The characteristics of the centrality measures reflected key similarities in the spatial patterns that facilitate tsunami evacuation and disease transmission, providing a comprehensive image of the integrated risk associated with each spatial pattern. Recommendations were developed to harness the advantages and mitigate the disadvantages identified in the spatial characteristics of centrality measures for optimising tsunami evacuation in the context of pandemic outbreaks. Finally, a comprehensive framework was developed, including actions to improve the tsunami evacuation in the context of pandemic outbreaks.
| Date of Award | 13 Oct 2025 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Michael Ginger (Main Supervisor) & Dilanthi Amaratunga (Co-Supervisor) |
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