Changes in Lulc and Drainage Network Patterns the Cause of Urban Flooding in Karachi City

 

• Ayesha IftikharNational University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Rislpur Campus, Pakistan
• Jawed IqbalNational University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Rislpur Campus

DOI: 

https://doi.org/10.18485/ijdrm.2024.6.1.6

Keywords: 

urban flood, monsoon rainfall, Karachi, drainage networks, land use, land cover, DEM, GIS, SRTM

Abstract

Karachi is a strategic city in Pakistan that was once known as a fishing village. An increase in industrialization and urbanization had been seen in the city. Karachi's land use, land cover as well as drainage networks have been changed because of Industrialization and urbanization. Flooding in Karachi because of late summer season monsoon rainfall has resulted in urban flooding. Poor urban planning and management had severely affected both rivers and linked tributaries. This study used secondary data that shows changes in LULC and poorly maintained drainage networks are the factors that caused urban flooding in Karachi. DEM, GIS, and SRTM have been used to mark the boundaries of Karachi and drainage networks on the digitized map. These maps could be utilized for improving the natural drainage networks as well as flood mitigation and preparedness measures. This study may provide a guideline to disaster planning, management, and development authorities.

A Systematic Collaboration of Volunteer and Professional Fire Units in Hungary

 András Molnár

• University of Pécs, PhD School of Regional Policy and Economics, University of Pécs, PhD School of Regional Policy and Economics

DOI: 

https://doi.org/10.18485/ijdrm.2024.6.1.1

Keywords: 

volunteer firefighters, collaboration, fire safety partnership, emergency management policies, first responders

Abstract

Volunteer firefighter units provide fire protection and rescue in many countries, while efforts to ensure safety often fall under the competencies of municipalities and local communities. Hungary, a Central European country centralised a large portion of its public services in the past decade, fire safety and rescue became the competence of a centralised professional governmental agency with national coverage. Although policy builds on a central professional organisation, the volunteer firefighting movement gained importance and has grown significantly recently. This paper investigates the collaboration between private volunteer firefighting brigades (local associations) and the central governmental disaster management agency of Hungary. We apply a case study approach to understand how volunteer units are integrated into the professional system. Our research is based on the analysis of policy documents, key informant interviews and Freedom of Information data requests. Findings show that volunteer units contribute to the safety and resilience of local communities in Hungary, but their engagement is not sustainable due to demographic and societal challenges, as well as the policy contradictions identified. The majority of the research on the role of volunteer firefighters covers decentralized countries with subsidiary systems. This current case study provides an addition to the discourse around the involvement of volunteers in fire safety with the evaluation of a collaboration between a centralized professional authority and localized, individual volunteer fire associations.