Vulnerability index: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:24, 25 July 2012

Revision as of 10:43, 12 September 2012

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A '''vulnerability index''' is a measure of the exposure of a population to some hazard. Typically, the index is a composite of multiple quantitative indicators that via some formula, delivers a single numerical result. Through such an index “diverse issues can be combined into a standardised framework…making comparisons possible”. <ref name=app6>[http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/news/events/ccamts/appendix06.pdf The Climate Vulnerability Index:relevance to the Tourism Sector]</ref> For instance, indicators from the [[physical sciences]] can be combined with social, medical and even psychological variables to evaluate potential complications for [[disaster planning]].

The origin of vulnerability indexes as a policy planning tool began with the [[United Nations Environmental Program]]. One of the participants in the early task forces has also conducted secondary research documenting the evolution of the analytic tool through various stages.<ref name=uneplist>[http://www.unep.org/ourplanet/imgversn/103/17_mea2.htm List of Vulnerability Studies]</ref> The term and methodology then expanded<ref>[http://www.macchomeless.org/pdf/ResultsFactSheet-Omaha.pdf Homelessness and the Vulnerability Index: A Guide to Registry Week Results in the Omaha Metro Region]</ref> through medical literature and social work as discussed by Dr. James O'Connell of Boston Healthcare for the Homeless.<ref>http://www.commonground.org/?page_id=789</ref>{{deadlinkdead link|date=January 2012}}<ref>O'Connor, James| Unpublished public forum presentation|University of Santa Barbara|Santa Barbara, California 2011</ref>

== Basic methodology ==

The basic methodology of constructing a vulnerability index is described by [[University of Malta]] researcher Lino Briguglio.<ref >{{cite journal |last=Briguglio |first=Lino |year=1992 |title=Preliminary Study on the Construction of an Index for Ranking Countries According to their Economic Vulnerability |journal=UNCTAD/LDC/Misc.4

}}</ref> The individual measures are weighted according to their relative importance. A cumulative score is then generated, typically by adding the weighted values. [[Decision tree]]s can evaluate alternative policy options. Much of the original research has been evaluated by Lino Briguglio and presenters at Oxford, providing a body of secondary source material.

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A composite vulnerability index grew out of the work of [[South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission]] (SOPAC), [[Fiji]], and the Expert Group on Vulnerability Indexes<ref>Pantin, D. (1997). Alternative Ecological Vulnerability Indicators for Developing Countries with Special Reference to SIDS. Report prepared for the Expert Group on Vulnerability Index. UN(DESA), 17–19 December 1997.</ref> affiliated with the United Nations, in response to a call made in the Barbados Plan of Action, the [[Alliance of Small Island States]] (AOSIS).<ref name=tr0275>[http://www.sopac.int/data/virlib/TR/TR0275.pdf SOPOAC Technical Report 275]</ref>

Bruguglio participated in development of the vulnerability index model for international organizations of small island developing states.<ref>Briguglio, L. (1992). Preliminary Study on the Construction of an Index for Ranking Countries According to their Economic Vulnerability, UNCTAD/LDC/Misc.4 (1992).</ref> University of Malta also hosts the Islands and Small States Institute, Foundation for International Studies. Other institutional participants included the New Zealand Official Development Assistance (NZODA) Programme.<ref name=tr0275/> In 1996, the concept of a composite vulnerability index had been tentatively taken up by Commonwealth policy analysts.<ref>Wells, J. (1996). Composite Vulnerability Index: A Preliminary Report. London: Commonwealth Secretariat.</ref> In 1997, official background papers of the SIDS unit reflected the term “vulnerability index” at least internally.<ref>United Nations – DPCSD (1997). Vulnerability Index (Revised Background Paper). SD-SIDS Unit.</ref> It was also advanced in Commonwealth channels.<ref> Wells, J. (1997). Composite Vulnerability Index: A Revised Report. London: Commonwealth Secretariat.</ref> By 1997, the term was approved for publication by the staff of the [[UN Secretary General]] in the SG’s Report on Development of a Vulnerability Index for SIDS.<ref>United Nations (1997). Report of the Secretary-General on the Development of a Vulnerability Index for Small Island Developing States (Advance Unedited Version to be submitted to the Commission for Sustainable Development, Sixth Session, 20 April-1 May 1998, and to the Committee for Development Planning, 32nd session, 4–8 May 1998).</ref> This concept was subsequently adopted by other experts in that field.<ref>Easter, C. (1998). ‘Small States and Development: A Composite Index of Vulnerability’ in Small States: Economic Review and Basic Statistics, Commonwealth Secretariat, December 1998</ref> and explicitly named as such.<ref>Crowards, T. (1999). An Economic Vulnerability Index for Developing Countries, with Special Reference to the Caribbean: Alternative Methodologies and Provisional Results. Caribbean Development Bank, March 1999.</ref>

In a 1999 Technical Report for SOPAC, Kaly ''et al.'' discussed more focused vulnerability indexes. A subsection of that report was entitled “Vulnerability index – environment” and the report also discussed the concept of “[[Environmental vulnerability index]]”.{{cncitation needed|date=January 2012}}

==Extension of the general concept ==

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===In medicine ===

In 2005 a “Histopathological Plaque Vulnerability Index“ was proposed.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Local Maximal Stress Hypothesis and Computational Plaque Vulnerability Index for Atherosclerotic Plaque Assessment |authors=Tang, et. al. |pmc=1474005 | pmid=16389527 |doi=10.1007/s10439-005-8267-1 |volume=33 |issue=12 |year=2005 |month=December |author=Tang D, Yang C, Zheng J, ''et al.'' |journal=Ann Biomed Eng |pages=1789–801}}</ref> Thereafter, the term was adopted by Dr Jim O’Connell, at Boston’s Healthcare for the Homeless. The model was also adopted by Common Ground, an advocacy organization in New York City which promulgated the vulnerability index to Santa Monica, New Orleans, Washington, DC, and what their literature referred to as “Los Angeles County’s infamous Skid Row”. It utilizes eight key health indicators that measure a chronically homeless person's vulnerability to early death. The model is now being adopted and registry week drives in the “ inner city areas” of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.<ref>[http://www.commongroundaustralia.org.au/index.php/other-initiatives.html Other Common Ground Initiatives ]</ref>

Other Common Ground Initiatives

]</ref>

==See also==