New online - November 2019

A number of new publications are now available to read online.

CRC reports

Prof Sujeeva Setunge, Prof Chun Qing Li, Prof Darryn McEvoy, Prov Kevin Zhang, Dr Jane Mullett and Dr Hessam Mohseni from RMIT University, Prof Priyan Mendis, Dr Tuan Ngo, Lihai Zhang and Dr Nilupa Herath from University of Southern Queensland and Prof Karu Karunasena, Dr Weena Lokuge, Dr Buddhi Wahalathantri and Prof Dilanthi Amaratunga from the University of Hudderfield have written an annual report on their project Enhancing resilience of critical infrastructure. The report details publications from the project, workshops held and major research activities undertaken.

Dr Elise Lumantarna and Prof Nelson Lam from the University of Melbourne and Dr Hing-Ho Tsang, Prof Emad Gad and Prof John Wilson from Swinburne University of Technology have written a progress report on the costing of limited ductile reinforced concrete buildings as part of the project Cost-effective mitigation strategy for building related earthquake risk.

Journal articles

Understanding the variability of Australian fire weather between 1973 and 2017, written by Dr Sarah Harris and Dr Chris Lucas and published in PLOS ONE, examines the relationship of historical time series and climate factors in relation to the McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index.

Two journal articles have been published from the Cost-effective mitigation strategy for building related earthquake risk:

• A universal approach for evaluating earthquake safety level based on societal fatality risk, written by Dr Hing-Ho Tsang, James Daniell, Friedemann Wenzell and Prof John Wilson and published in the Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, introduces a rational and universal approach for evaluating the adequacy of structural safety requirements by comparing societal risk functions based on probabilistic loss assessment with a proposed regulatory requirement
• Use of Macroseismic Intensity Data to Validate a Regionally Adjustable Ground Motion Prediction Model, written by Yuxiang Tang, Prof Nelson Lam, Dr Hing-Ho Tsang and Dr Elise Lumantarna and published in the journal Geosciences, introduces a regionally adjustable ground motion prediction equation known as the component attenuation model.

Valuing non-market economic impacts from natural hazards, written by Dr Abbie Rogers, Fiona Dempster, Jacob Hawkins, Robert Johnston, Peter Boxall, John Rolfe, Marit Kragt, Prof Michael Burton and David Pannell and published in the journal Natural Hazards, reviews the state of non-market valuation studies that provide monetary equivalent estimates for the intangible benefits and costs that can be affected by natural hazard events or their mitigation.

Beyond Binary: (Re)Defining “Gender” for 21st Century Disaster Risk Reduction Research, Policy, and Practice, written by CRC associate student Lesley Gray along with Ashleigh Rushton, Justin Canty and Kevin Blanchard and published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, explores the place of sex and gender minorities in disasters.

CRC student completions

Dr Heather Bancroft’s PhD thesis Wellbeing of firefighters: the impact of individual factors, potentially traumatic event exposure, and operational and organisational factors on mental health outcomes has been accepted by The University of Melbourne. Her project investigated the prevalence of the common mental health disorders associated with increased exposure to potentially traumatic events in firefighters.

Dr Christopher Thomas’ thesis Investigation of spotting and intrinsic fire dynamics using a coupled atmosphere-fire modelling framework has been accepted by the University of New South Wales. Dr Thomas’ research focused on the modelling of dynamic fire behaviour and ember transport in turbulent fire fumes.

Dr Gabriela Raducan’s thesis Modelling the impact of lifeline infrastructure failure during natural hazard events has been accepted by RMIT University. Dr Raducan’s PhD paper presents research that is designed to develop a spatial approach to support the planning of the water quality in the areas subjected to bushfires, using a Victorian case study.

Dr Alan Green’s thesis Sprinkler systems for the protection of buildings from wildfire has been accepted by The University of Wollongong. Dr Green’s thesis

Dr Ismail Qeshta’s thesis Fragility and resilience of bridges subjected to extreme wave-induced forces has been accepted by RMIT University. Dr Qeshta’s PhD research developed a comprehensive vulnerability and resilience assessment method for bridges under extreme wave hazards.

Dr Raven Cretney’s thesis The post disaster city: crisis politics and social change in community led earthquake recovery has been accepted by RMIT University. Dr Cretney’s project researched community engagement both during and after a natural hazard as well as the social and political challenges communities face.