6.1 - Definition and Professionals of the Built Environment
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Understanding the Built Environment
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Today we will discuss the built environment. Can anyone tell me what it includes?
I think it includes buildings and houses.
Great start! It includes those but also extends to infrastructure, transport systems, and public services like energy and waste management. Let’s remember this as 'BITE' for Buildings, Infrastructure, Transport, Energy.
Got it! That makes it easier to remember!
Exactly! Now, why do you think understanding the built environment matters for disaster preparedness?
So we can build safer places?
Precisely! Understanding it allows professionals to design better structures and anticipate risks.
Roles of Built Environment Professionals
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Now, let’s talk about professionals in the built environment. Can anyone name a few?
Architects and engineers!
Yes! Architects, engineers, and also planners and surveyors. They all have unique roles. For instance, architects design buildings while engineers focus on structural integrity. Let’s remember them using the acronym 'APES' for Architects, Planners, Engineers, and Surveyors.
That will be easy to recall!
Great! Each of these roles is crucial for effective disaster management. Why do you think their input is vital?
So they can help reduce risks and improve safety!
Correct! Their expertise helps in planning and implementing strategies for risk reduction.
Phases of Disaster Management
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Let’s delve into disaster management phases. Who can tell me how many phases there are?
Seven phases, right?
Exactly! We have: risk assessment, risk reduction, preparedness, emergency relief, early recovery, reconstruction, and ongoing development. Let’s create a mnemonic: 'RRP-ERR-ORD' where you can remember 'R' for Risk, 'E' for Emergency, and 'O' for Ongoing.
That’s a handy way to remember them!
What do you think is the most critical phase?
Maybe disaster preparedness? It’s important to be ready!
Absolutely! Being prepared can save countless lives during an emergency.
Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
Standard
The built environment encompasses human settlements, infrastructure, and services, emphasizing the need for effective disaster preparedness and risk reduction. Professionals in this field—such as architects, engineers, and planners—play crucial roles in assessing risks, preparing communities, and implementing policies to mitigate hazards.
Detailed
In-Depth Summary
The built environment refers to the physical components created by humans, including buildings, infrastructure, and public services such as transportation, energy, water, and waste management. Its definition expands to include commercial properties and the entire construction industry. Professionals who work within this sector are termed built environment professionals; they provide essential technical support through consultation, design, project management, and policy implementation.
Key roles of these practitioners encompass not only the evaluation of technical failures but also proactive disaster preparedness, which involves assessing risks and estimating human and financial costs associated with disasters.
Disaster management is framed within a cyclic process involving seven phases: risk and vulnerability assessment, risk reduction and mitigation, disaster preparedness, emergency relief, early recovery, reconstruction, and ongoing development. During these phases, it is vital to integrate sustainable development practices to enhance community resilience and coping capacities.
Additionally, social factors play a significant role in how disasters affect different populations, notably demonstrating that access to resources and opportunities is often influenced by socioeconomic and environmental contexts. Understanding these inequalities is crucial for effectively tailoring disaster risk management strategies. The use of advanced tools such as hazard mapping and community engagement further supports these efforts, enabling more reliable predictions of potential hazards.
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Understanding the Built Environment
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Chapter Content
When we talk about the built environment, the guide describes the built environment which refers in general terms to human settlements, building and infrastructure, transport, energy, water, and waste and related services and it also includes the commercial property and construction industries and the built environment and the related professions.
Detailed Explanation
The built environment encompasses all structures and spaces created by humans, including homes, roads, bridges, and utilities. This definition highlights not only physical buildings but also the systems and services that support them, such as transport and waste management. It's important because it helps us understand how our surroundings influence our daily lives and the importance of infrastructure in promoting social and economic activities.
Examples & Analogies
Think of your school as part of the built environment. It includes not just the classrooms, but also the infrastructure around it like playgrounds, roads leading to school, the water supply, and waste disposal systems. Each element is essential for the school's operation and the wellbeing of students.
Who are Built Environment Professionals?
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Chapter Content
The term built environment professional includes those we refer to as practitioners primarily concerned with providing technical support services, consultation and briefing, design, planning, project management, and implementation.
Detailed Explanation
Built environment professionals come from various fields and play crucial roles in shaping our cities and communities. They include architects, engineers, urban planners, and surveyors. Their work involves designing buildings, planning urban spaces, managing construction projects, and ensuring that developments meet regulatory standards. They also provide essential guidance in disaster risk reduction through their expertise.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a team where an architect designs a new school, an engineer ensures the building is structurally safe, and a surveyor assesses the land's suitability for construction. Each professional has a specific role that contributes to creating a safe and functional environment for students.
The Role in Disaster Preparedness and Response
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Chapter Content
Practitioners have a key role in disaster preparedness and response, and it also has to outlay the human and financial cost of any catastrophe and what kind of repair and the reconstruction is going to cost.
Detailed Explanation
Built environment professionals are integral during disasters as they help plan for potential impacts, assess damages, and strategize recovery efforts. This includes estimating costs for repairs and rebuilding, which is essential for allocating resources effectively in the aftermath of an event. Their expertise can significantly influence how quickly and efficiently communities can recover.
Examples & Analogies
Consider an earthquake that damages many buildings in a city. Professionals like engineers will evaluate the structures to determine how much repair work is needed, while planners might help design a better evacuation route based on their assessments. Their coordinated efforts ensure that recovery is organized and resources are utilized wisely.
The Phases of Disaster Management
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Chapter Content
They have identified the 7 phases; one is the risk and vulnerability assessment, risk reduction and mitigation, disaster preparedness and pre-disaster planning, emergency relief, early recovery and transition, reconstruction, post-reconstruction development, review and ongoing reduction.
Detailed Explanation
Disaster management is a structured process that involves several phases, from assessing risks to providing emergency relief, followed by recovery and ongoing improvements to reduce future risks. Each phase is crucial, as it ensures that communities are prepared before a disaster, supported during it, and rebuilt more resiliently afterward.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a school fire drill. Before the fire occurs, students learn how to exit safely (risk assessment and preparedness). If a fire happens, they practice quick evacuation (emergency relief). Afterward, the school may improve fire safety measures (reconstruction and ongoing reduction). This systematic approach mirrors the phases in disaster management.
Integrating Sustainability and Resilience
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Chapter Content
We have to understand that you know how we can integrate the sustainable development and that is where one has to look at the disaster prevention and the sustainable development.
Detailed Explanation
Integrating sustainable development into disaster management means planning not just to recover from disasters but to create systems that are resilient and environmentally friendly. This ensures that future developments can withstand hazards and that communities are better prepared for potential risks. The goal is to create a cycle of continuous improvement and increased sustainability.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a neighborhood rebuilding after a flood. Instead of just repairing homes, the community decides to elevate structures, implement better drainage, and create green spaces to absorb rainwater. This approach not only prepares them for future floods but also enhances their living environment, embodying the concept of sustainability.
Key Concepts
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Built Environment: Refers to the physical constructs made by humans, varying from buildings to infrastructure.
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Disaster Preparedness: Planning and actions taken ahead of potential disasters to mitigate their effects.
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Risk Assessment: The evaluation of risks to determine their potential impact and likelihood.
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Sustainable Development: The approach of meeting current needs without jeopardizing future generations.
Examples & Applications
An example of the built environment is a city, including its roads, bridges, and public parks.
Disaster preparedness can be demonstrated by communities conducting emergency drills to practice evacuation procedures.
Memory Aids
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Rhymes
In the built environment, we see, buildings, roads, and services free.
Stories
Imagine a town where engineers and architects meet to thrive; they prepare their community for disasters to help everyone survive.
Memory Tools
RRP-ERR-ORD: Remember the phases - Risk, Reduction, Preparedness; Emergency, Recovery, Reconstruction, Ongoing Development.
Acronyms
APES
Architects
Planners
Engineers
Surveyors.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Built Environment
The physical components created by humans, including buildings, infrastructure, and public services.
- Disaster Preparedness
The planning and preparation to minimize the impact of potential disasters.
- Risk Assessment
The process of identifying and analyzing potential risks or hazards that could occur.
- Sustainable Development
The development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
- Resilience
The capacity of individuals and communities to successfully adapt to challenges and recover from setbacks.
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