Review article: The spatial dimension in the assessment of urban socio-economic vulnerability related to geohazards

This paper aims to elucidate the state of the art of data sources, spatial variables, indicators, methods, indexes and tools for the spatial assessment of socio-economic vulnerability (SEV) related to geohazards. The most common source of data remains population censuses. The most recurrent spatial variable used for the assessment of SEV is households without basic services, while critical facilities are the most frequent spatial category.

The Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI^®) remains the benchmark for the assessment of SEV and a reference for its spatial assessment. Geographic information systems (GIS) is the most common tool for conducting a spatial assessment of SEV regarding geohazards. For future spatial assessments of SEV regarding geohazards, the authors recommend considering 3-D spatial indexes at the microscale at the urban level and involving the community in the assessments.