Special issue: International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment

Every two years, the Global Assessment Report (GAR) provides a global assessment of disaster risk reduction and a comprehensive review and analysis of the natural hazards affecting humanity. The GAR aims to focus international attention on disaster risk and the need to manage and reduce it, and on the need to consolidate political and economic support to do so. It is produced in collaboration and consultation with many stakeholders, including United Nations agencies, governments, academic and research institutions, donors, and technical organisations and specialists. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) coordinates and supervises the preparation of the GAR.

The GAR 2015 (GAR15) informed the development of the successor to the HFA (HFA+), as well as the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (Sendai, Japan, 14–18 March 2015), at which the Sendai Disaster Reduction Framework was adopted. Part of GAR15 was a retrospective analysis of the HFA, in particular of the degree to which the HFA has been fit for purpose in promoting and bringing about change towards improved risk management, and in so doing seek to make recommendations for an enhanced framework, the HFA+. This analysis was based on, among other things, a series of thematic reviews organised along the HFA core indicators. Sixteen thematic research areas were thus defined and work on these areas is in progress.

Within this context, this special issue covers the selected papers that were submitted to GAR 2015 as background papers. The special issue will offer:

• An authoritative review of current thinking and debates in areas that have been identified based on the overall focus of the GAR 2015 Report; and
• Presentation of state-of-the-art analysis within the selected area of current approach and academic interest, that thus informs approach debate in this area.

Free Access

Papers of this issue can be accessed for free until 31st August 2016. 
 
In order to access the papers, you need to register via this link in the first instance.
 
Thereafter, if you follow the instructions and check your email and click the email link, it will redirect you to the special issue web page via which you will have free access to full papers of the special issue to IJDRBE.

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment (IJDRBE) 

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment is the leading journal that contributes to the body of knowledge on disaster mitigation, response and reconstruction within the context of the built environment. It is the only journal to promote research and scholarly activity that examines the role of building and construction to anticipate and respond to unexpected events that damage or destroy the built environment. It is developing the skills and knowledge of the built environment professions and strengthens their capacity in strategic and practical aspects of disaster preparedness, rehabilitation and reconstruction to mitigate the effects of disasters nationally and internationally.

The journal focuses on basic and applied research, practical developments, case studies, editorials, book reviews, information on forthcoming events in the field, and field reports. In keeping with the journal’s international scope, articles are particularly welcome with details of: overall leadership in research, education, planning, design and implementation for infrastructure renewal and reconstruction projects in developing countries; and, details of innovative and socially responsible projects inspired via internal synergies that lead to rapid development and improved quality of life. IJDRBE is listed on Scopus and SCImago Journal Rank (SJR). The papers published in IJDRBE are also abstracted/indexed in British Library; Construction and Building Abstracts; ICONDA - The International Construction Database; Business Source Premier (EBSCO); ABI INFORM Global (ProQuest); Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (ProQuest); INSPEC.
 
The Journal is edited by Professors Dilanthi Amaratunga & Richard Haigh from the Global Disaster Resilience Centre at the University of Huddersfield, UK.