Suzanne Wilkinson

Resourcing challenges for post-disaster housing reconstruction: a comparative analysis

Post-disaster housing reconstruction is likely to suffer project deficiencies in relation to the availability of resources. Inefficiencies in dealing with resource shortages in the aftermath of a catastrophe can trigger economic and environmental impacts on the affected areas. Based on data collected from field research in China, Indonesia, and Australia, three types of resource-led reconstruction strategies are compared: government driven, donor driven, and market driven. Conventional interventions from the Chinese government (e.g. price restrictions and discouraging profiteering to regulate the market) were unable to meet the long-term reconstruction needs after the Wenchuan earthquake (2008). Complexity inherent in both internal and external environments in Indonesia compromised donors efforts in post-tsunami (2004) resource procurement. Market-oriented resourcing processes in Australian bushfire (2009) reconstruction are unlikely to succeed without facilitated solutions from the government and institutions. The answer to effective resource management for post-disaster reconstruction lies in the appropriateness of the responses and improvements to address resourcing challenges. The success of resourcing depends on multi-stakeholder collaboration and the development of polices, plans, and tools to allow market flexibility, donor management, and government intervention. Il est probable que la reconstruction de logements après une catastrophe se trouve confrontée à des insuffisances liées à la disponibilité des ressources pour les projets de construction. Le manque defficacité dans le traitement des pénuries de ressources suite à une catastrophe peut déclencher des répercussions économiques et environnementales sur les zones affectées. En se fondant sur les données tirées d’études de terrain en Chine, en Indonésie et en Australie, trois types de stratégies de reconstruction impulsées par les ressources sont comparés, mettant laccent respectivement sur les gouvernements, les donateurs et le marché. Les interventions classiques du gouvernement chinois (par ex. limiter les prix et dissuader de faire des bénéfices excessifs pour réguler le marché) nont pas permis de répondre aux besoins de reconstruction à long terme après le tremblement de terre de Wenchuan (2008). La complexité inhérente aux environnements intérieurs aussi bien quextérieurs en Indonésie a mis en péril les efforts des donateurs concernant lapprovisionnement en ressources après le tsunami (2004). Il y a peu de chances que les processus de sourcing privilégiant le marché lors de la reconstruction suite aux incendies dans le bush australien (2009) puissent réussir sans des solutions facilitées par le gouvernement et les institutionnels. La réponse à apporter pour quune gestion efficace des ressources permette la reconstruction après une catastrophe réside dans la justesse des réponses et des améliorations faites pour relever les défis du sourcing. La réussite du sourcing dépend dune collaboration entre les diverses parties prenantes et du développement de politiques, de plans et doutils qui assureront la flexibilité du marché, la gestion des donateurs et lintervention gouvernementale. Mots clés: préparation aux situations durgence, logement, organisations non gouvernementales (ONG), reconstruction après une catastrophe, disponibilité des ressources, gestion des ressources, sourcing, durabilité

Resourcing for a resilient post‐disaster reconstruction environment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the resourcing issues that concern the provision of resources required for reconstruction projects after a disaster and to enable them to be integrated into a holistic planning process.Design/methodology/approach – Triangulation methodology is adopted in this paper including both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative approach, namely statistic analysis with the aid of questionnaires and SPSS is employed to identify the key factors affecting resource availability in post‐disaster reconstruction situations. The qualitative semi‐structured interviews and desk reviews of government and media documents are conducted to further interpret outcomes in the questionnaire session.Findings – Based on empirical research, the major finding of the paper is that in order to arrive at a resilient and sustainable built environment after a disaster, resourcing efforts should be made around four components – resourcing facilitator: legislation and policy; ...

Managing resources in disaster recovery projects

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a basis for the construction professionals and stakeholders to understand the critical factors influencing resource availability in a post‐disaster situation. The study reported in this paper is part of ongoing research concerned with developing a methodology to improve the outcomes of resource availability for projects in post‐disaster environments. This study attempts to address the following questions: what factors impinge upon the availability of resources in a disaster recovery project and what are the common resource availability determinants across different recovery environments?Design/methodology/approach – The method of analysis in this investigation is a comparative case study. The researchers took part in disaster field trips to Indonesia, China and Australia during their recovery from natural disasters. By using case studies and a triangulation method, critical factors that affected resource availability in the three examined countries were id...

Re-conceptualising "Building Back Better" to Improve Post- Disaster Recovery

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand and define the concept of Building Back Better (BBB) and represent it using a comprehensive framework. Design/methodology/approach – Literature related to the concept of BBB were studied to understand the key concepts which constitute BBB. These concepts were analysed and categorised to form the basis of the proposed BBB framework. Findings – Post-disaster recovery in-line with BBB concepts can be achieved by having a holistic view of four key categories: risk reduction entails improving the resilience of the built environment through improvement of structural designs and land-use planning; community recovery includes addressing and supporting psycho-social recovery of communities and supporting economic rejuvenation; implementation addresses ways in which risk reduction and community recovery practices can be put in place in an efficient and effective way; monitoring and evaluation stretches across the first three categories, and calls for putting in p...

Legislation for effective post‐disaster reconstruction

New Zealand is vulnerable to natural disasters. When disasters occur, the effects can be devastating on the built environment. As one aspect of a major programme of research in New Zealand, the authors address the recovery issue in terms of how legislation either facilitates or hinders reconstruction. The results of a survey to building control officers and other disaster practitioners in New Zealand on the application of the Building Act 2004 post‐disaster are presented in this paper. There are indications that the New Zealand Building Act 2004 will not be supportive or enabling in post‐disaster reconstruction environments, particularly in large‐scale disaster events. Key problems found were procedural constraints as a result of high consenting standards and logistic considerations. The desire is to create the best possible conditions that will encourage rapid rebuilding of lives and communities after large‐scale disasters in New Zealand and that can only be done within a supportive legislative environment.

Identifying factors affecting resource availability for post‐disaster reconstruction: a case study in China

The availability of resources allows for the rapid and cost‐effective delivery of a construction project. For rebuilding programmes after a disaster, the need for better understanding of factors affecting resource availability and their potential impacts on resourcing outcomes can be of crucial importance to effective reconstruction performance. Drawing on an empirical survey in China following the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the critical factors affecting resource availability for post‐quake reconstruction of housing are identified. Resource availability in a post‐disaster situation is not only associated with (1) project‐related factors such as quantity of resources required, project schedule, project resourcing plan, and resource procurement lead time; and (2) factors related to the reconstruction practitioners, including competency of resourcing manager and qualification of contractor; but is also related to (3) factors external to reconstruction projects including legislation and policy, general economic environment, and resource transportation cost and method. To address these factors, a multi‐sector approach is needed for reconstruction decision makers and practitioners. A planned procurement strategy in the implementing contractors, a range of training initiatives for small and medium businesses, along with augmented regulatory, economic and transport infrastructure systems are likely to improve resource availability for post‐disaster rebuilding projects.

Resource challenges for housing reconstruction

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify resourcing challenges that face housing rebuild following the 2009 Victorian “Black Saturday” bushfires in Australia and to examine the impacts of resource shortages on longer term community recovery.Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology included a longitudinal study which consists of a questionnaire survey, field‐based interviews and observations to track trends evident in the survey.Findings – A total of 28 months after the bushfires, reconstruction in the worst‐affected area, the Shire of Murrindindi, was proceeding slowly despite the institutions and procedures set up for recovery. This slow reconstruction was due to the unavailability of building resources. Changed Building Standards, increased building markets outside the bushfire zone, lack of economic incentives, combined with home owners’ socio‐economic vulnerabilities, created a chain of impacts on households’ ability to get resources.Research limitations/implications – The evid...

Organizational Networks and Recovery Following the Canterbury Earthquakes

Following a disaster, the recovery of organizations is influenced by the flow of resources and information through organizational networks. The 2010–2011 earthquakes in Canterbury, New Zealand, had major direct and indirect impacts on local organizations and the regional economy. This paper utilizes 47 organizational case studies to assess the role of organizations’ networks in their response and short-term recovery activities, and to explore the effects of networks on regional reconstruction and related sectors. The results are organized around four thematic analyses, focusing on organizations’ support network characteristics, the types of support mobilized to aid recovery, network adaptations for new post-quake demands, and the economic impacts of organizational networks in reconstruction. The paper discusses how organizations managed and utilized networks to reduce the impacts of the earthquakes and to adapt to altered post-quake environments. These empirical observations of post-quake organizational behavior can also inform regional economic impact and resilience modeling.

Build back better : implementation in Victorian bushfire reconstruction

The build back better (BBB) concept signals an opportunity to decrease the vulnerability of communities to future disasters during post-disaster reconstruction and recovery. The 2009 Victorian bushfires in Australia serve as a case study for this assessment of the application of core BBB principles and their outcomes. The results show that several BBB measures were successfully implemented in Victoria and are relevant for any post-disaster reconstruction effort. The BBB initiatives taken in Victoria include: land-use planning determined by hazard risk-based zoning; enforcement of structural design improvements; facilitated permit procedures; regular consultations with stakeholders; and programmes conducted for social and economic recovery. Lessons from the Victorian recovery urge the avoidance of construction in high-risk zones; fairness and representativeness in community consultations; adequate support for economic recovery; the advance establishment of recovery frameworks; and empowerment of local councils.

Supporting post-disaster social recovery to build back better

Purpose – This paper aims to propose a set of principles for implementation of successful post-disaster social recovery in-line with the concept of “building back better” (BBB). Design/methodology/approach – A set of preliminary principles for post-disaster social recovery was established from literature review. The 2009 Victorian Bushfires was chosen as a case study to examine the implemented social recovery approaches and impacts. Findings – Analysis of the literature and case study have led to the creation of a set of modified BBB principles for social recovery under two categories, first, community support and, second, community involvement. Key principles under first category include: providing personalized support for affected families, specialized support for vulnerable groups and improved psychological support; building community cohesion; and keeping the community informed. Key principles under second category include: involving the community in designing and implementing recovery projects; provi...