At the September 2011 iLEAPs Science conference Faisal Hossain of the Tennessee Technological University presented the powerpoint talk
The bottom-up vulnerability approach for adaptation and mitigation to climate and other threats
This is an example of the bottom-up, resource-based perspective that we are presenting in our paper
Pielke Sr., R.A., R. Wilby, D. Niyogi, F. Hossain, K. Dairuku, J. Adegoke, G. Kallos, T. Seastedt, and K. Suding, 2011: Dealing with complexity and extreme events using a bottom-up, resource-based vulnerability perspective. AGU Monograph on Complexity and Extreme Events in Geosciences, in press.
I recommend you read the entire set of slides. I reproduced the text from two of them below:
First-cut Summary of (incomplete) Bottom-Up Vulnerability Assessment for Dhaka Megacity
- Vast reserves of urban runoff. Long term: 60% or rainfall harvestable as urban runoff; Heavy event: 90+% harvestable as urban runoff.
- Singapore (Selatar Bedok reservoir) may be feasible for Dhaka city.
- Other threats need to be considered (climate, population and urbanization projections) to compare the impact of each on the resource –find the most sensitive one. Work in progress.
Challenges and Issues Ahead for Institutionalizing Contextual Approach
1. Deciding on what should be an ‘inclusive’ set of threats.
2. Finding skillful ways to use rigidly constrained (high resolution) atmospheric models to pinpoint the role played by LULCC projections (on extremes) for adaptation (local scale). Strategies for emulation: WRF-SWMM coupled model study on urban infrastructure.
3. Finding a common metric for comparing impact (or sensitivity) on a resource from various threats (climate, LULCC, others).
4. Deciding on LULCC climate feedbacks relevant to a resource. E.g. Dam-reservoir system climate feedback is important to water, food, power. Urbanization on health?
Climate Science: Roger Pielke Sr. 