An Urban Design Perspective of Building up Disaster Resilience and Hazard Mitigation in Vulnerable Cities: Case of Cochin

Abstract

The paper is based on the discipline of urban design to bring in the concepts of disaster resilience to the city of Cochin. The increased input and use of resources caused by the world's growing urban population puts pressure on diverse natural systems, resulting in inequitable development. Cities' vulnerability to multiple attacks by natural and man-made disasters has increased significantly as a result of the current trend of urbanisation. As a consequence of this research, a framework of tactics for an emergency response programme to make cities resilient has been developed, which has been shown in Cochin by taking up a sample precinct in the city. The result is the creation of response governance models that take into account physical aspects including land use, open spaces, transportation networks, physical and social infrastructure, built density, ecology, and emergency response mechanisms.