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Natural risks and cartographic transcription

Abstract

t is admitted that a map is the object which gives the best and most certain information on the « risk situations » of a given part of the territory, for all types of natural risk. Much work in this area has given rise to many achievements, of which some are of high quality. A global analysis of the field shows, not surprisingly, that it is the quality of the prior design methodology (which maps, for which action and for what public ?) which decides the quality of the map, which must choose, for example, between the functions of information, interdiction and/or regulatory zoning. It would seem that a canonical map does not exist, and that the really effective summary maps are based on an excellent knowledge of both hazards and vulnerability, at the « right » scale of work, depending on the objective desired. Much remains to be done in this field where the standardisation of powerful cartographic tools (such as GIS) cannot replace or simply hide the need for methods of risk management which will generate effective maps. Any belief of the contrary would be an illusion.

Authors


P. GIVONE

Country : France

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