Towards a wildfire vulnerability index using expert judgement

M. Papathoma-Köhle; D. Hausharter; M. Schlögl; S. Fuchs

doi:10.1071/WF24114

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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Towards a wildfire vulnerability index using expert judgement

M. Papathoma-Köhle

^A ^* , D. Hausharter ^B , M. Schlögl

^A ^C and S. Fuchs ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Department of Civil Engineering and Natural Hazards, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria.

^B Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control, Villach, Austria.

^C Department for Climate Impact Research, GeoSphere Austria, Vienna, Austria.

^* Correspondence to: maria.papathoma-koehle@boku.ac.at

International Journal of Wildland Fire 34, WF24114 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF24114

Submitted: 8 July 2024 Accepted: 18 December 2024 Published: 16 January 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of IAWF. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC)

Abstract

Background

Climate change is expected to significantly change wildfire frequency and magnitude, which poses particular challenges for countries with limited experience in managing wildfires, such as Austria.

Aims

To develop a vulnerability index, this study aims at weighting the characteristics of buildings and their surroundings (vulnerability indicators) by involving different national stakeholders (Austria) and international experts.

Methods

Expert judgement and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) were used for weighting indicators identified in a previous study through a literature review.

Key results

The judgement of two expert groups regarding the weighting of the vulnerability indicators is compared. A wildfire vulnerability index that combines all the indicators into a single vulnerability index assigned to each building is introduced.

Conclusions

The wildfire vulnerability index for buildings is a tool for decision-makers and other end users in Austria. The index sets the foundations for ongoing research in the field of vulnerability assessment and is based on trans-disciplinary approaches involving both academia and stakeholders.

Implications

The index can be used to support decision-making, risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategies but it can also guide local adaptation at the building level.

Keywords: analytic hierarchy process, Austria, buildings, expert judgement, index, indicators, stakeholders, vulnerability, wildland–urban interface, wildfire.

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