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| Mt. Robson - October 2023 (photo by V.A. McMillan) Before we present the completed capstone research paper it seems proper to give a fitting introduction to what was going to be done and what was outside the scope of my research project - this is best achieved by sharing the actual Research Proposal... |
Houses of Straw,
Sticks, and Bricks – Increasing Structural Disaster Resiliency to
Wildfires, Floods,
Earthquakes, Wind Events, and the Big Bad Wolf Capstone Project
Outline V. Andrew McMillan Justice Institute of
British Columbia ESMS-4900 Capstone Instructor: Beth
Larcombe Advisor: Bettina
Williams Due Date: 23 May 2022 Introduction This capstone
research project will explore physical solutions to enhance the resiliency of
the built world by increasing structural survival when encountering the natural
world disaster events of wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and wind events
(tornadoes, hurricanes, cyclones). Resiliency
to natural disasters or human-caused crises requires a systems approach
including physical, social, economic, and environmental solution components. Additionally,
these components have impacts at the individual, community, business, and
governmental level. Each time a disaster destroys a community the process of
rebuilding begins again, what if the built world was not destroyed by disaster
events? The problem is not a total lack of solutions, it is more a situation of
individual solutions being kept hidden from other solutions in coveted silos. Furthermore,
previous research likely focused on one disaster event or maybe a couple,
however, if a solution can be found that addresses the four disaster events of
concern with this research – wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and wind events
(tornadoes, hurricanes, cyclones); then a more universal resilient structural design
may emerge. From
this research the foundational path for a solution will be established that
will not only address improving disaster resilience of the built world, but
will help to address Public Safety Canada’s objective to make Canada and Canadians
more resilient by 2030; as well as help address some of FEMA’s (Federal
Emergency Management Agency) objectives to increase resiliency and
preparedness, breakdown barriers to information sharing, and improve
interdisciplinary research (Department of Homeland Security, 2015; Federal
Emergency Management Agency, 2018; Obama, 2011; & Public Safety Canada,
2019). The
purpose (aim) of this research project is to explore the best practices of disaster
survival of the built world at the individual level as part of a systems
approach to improving resiliency at the individual, community, business, and
governmental level. The research will identify the standards to build right the
first time, build back better; as well as address retrofitting current structures
to incorporate these best practices for enhancing structural resiliency to
wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and wind events. Research Questions ·
How do you improve the structural resiliency to
wildfire, floods, earthquakes, and wind events (tornadoes, hurricanes,
cyclones)? This
research project will look at the relationship between the natural world and the
built world as they interact in systems theory, as well as how individual
elements are influenced by the appropriate “dynamic theories” – thermodynamic,
hydrodynamic, geodynamic, or aerodynamic. The
scope of this research project will be guided through three levels of
exploration: Level
One – Paper Level: Examine available solutions in policy, procedures, and
existing programs Level
Two – Practical Level: Discover technical, material, and construction
techniques Level
Three – Visionary Level: Imagine how the best practices can be integrated
in future community designing and planning to maximize community resilience to
wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and wind events (tornadoes, hurricanes,
cyclones) The scope will be
constrained by the limits of the research. Conducting physical destructive
testing or other primary data generation will be beyond the scope of this
research project. This research
project will endeavour to compile the contemporary known solutions to
increasing structural resiliency to wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and wind
events (tornadoes, hurricanes, cyclones) and bring these solutions into a
single point of reference. Public Safety Canada (2019) wants Canadians and
Canadian communities to become more resilient and this research will aid in
achieving this by identifying the factors that provide a positive increase in
resiliency. FEMA (2018) has asked institutes of higher learning in emergency
management to help break down silos of knowledge and find ways to share
knowledge. A pragmatic researcher will not allow themselves to be confined to a
silo if the answers are out there. This research project has three
major limitations: 1. Time
– A maximum of fourteen weeks from start to finish 2. Space
– A maximum of 7000-words 3. Secondary
Data – Collection of primary data will not be possible in the available time These limitations will
influence the scope of the research and impact the depth and breadth of the
output product. Plan for Literature Search and Review The
initial search strategy will conduct an online search of the JIBC Library and
Google Scholar to discover important, current research. This will be followed
by a snowballing sampling technique, starting with the experts in the four
areas of interest – wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and wind events – namely,
Natural Resource Canada, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Public
Safety Canada, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Insurance Institute
for Business and Home Safety. This will be followed by an exploration of
professional documents, such as the national building code, NFPA fire codes,
and ISO codes. Journeay et al. offers an appropriate Canadian starting point in
their 2015 tome, Disaster Resilience by Design: A Framework for Integrated
Assessment and Risk-Based Planning in Canada. This volume covers a
multitude of design and planning considerations to keep in mind when approaching
the topic of disaster resilience and building structures in Canada’s diverse
landscape. Design and Methodology This
research will essentially study secondary data in the form of peer reviewed
articles, reports, assessments, and industry codes. A quantitative method using
a critical appraisal of research evidence of secondary data. Time constraints prohibits
the gathering of primary data through experimentation, therefore reviewing
secondary data is the best method to achieve success for this assignment. Collaterally,
this research will identify primary research facilities for each of the
disaster types – wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and wind events. This
research is not generating primary data, thus secondary data from reputable
sources are less likely to generate concerns with data validation. The critical
appraisal process will guide the analysis. Furthermore, ethical issues are
unlikely to be a concern for this research project as the research will not
have direct contact with any subjects and will not be conducting any primary
data collection. This only leaves researcher bias that may tint the output
product, again unlikely to violate ethical limits. Conclusion This
research expects to find and compile solutions that impact the physical survivability
of built structures that are exposed to disaster events of wildfires, floods,
earthquakes, and wind events. Therefore, strengthening the built world to
natural world disasters and enhancing individual, community, business, and
governmental level resiliency. Additionally, an appendix of primary research
facilities will be identified and compiled to aid future research projects. This
research will establish a foundational layer that can be built upon to create
the ultimate built structure. While, the built world is not the only aspect of
a resilient community, a resilient built world could ensure survivors of
disaster events have a safe place to shelter while the community rebuilds from the
disaster event. My professional and personal gain from this research project will be achieved through conducting this research within the set framework resulting in a concise, informative paper to further the understanding the part the built world plays in disaster resiliency. AppendixProject Schedule
References Department of Homeland Security. (2015). National
preparedness goal, (2nd ed.). https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/national_preparedness_goal_2nd_edition.pdf Federal Emergency Management
Agency. (2018). A proposed research agenda for the emergency management
higher education community. https://training.fema.gov/hiedu/docs/latest/2018_fema_research_agenda_final-508%20(march%202018).pdf Journeay, J.M., Talwar, S.,
Brodaric, B., & Hastings, N.L. (2015). Disaster resilience by design:
A framework for integrated assessment and risk-based planning in Canada. Natural Resource Canada. https://doi.org/10.4095/296800
Obama, B. (2011, 30 March). Presidential
policy directive / PPD-8. Federal Emergency Management Agency. https://emilms.fema.gov/is_2000/media/152.pdf Public Safety Canada. (2019). Emergency
management strategy for Canada – Toward a resilient 2030. https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/mrgncy-mngmnt-strtgy/mrgncy-mngmnt-strtgy-en.pdf Previous PostsHere are the links to previously posted components of my research project, in case you missed them:
Thank you for reading this post. I hope you are finding this topic interesting. Until next time...Don't forget to share your research projects with the World!! Mountainman. Update: Capstone Research Project: Update: Bridging the Gap Article: |
