Takabatake, T; Hasegawa, N and Nishigaki, S (2024) Relative importance of safety against natural disasters for residential selection: A case study at Osaka Prefecture, Japan. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 15(2), pp. 303-319. ISSN 1759-5916
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to clarify the following research questions: to what extent do people consider natural disaster risks as important for residential selection? what personal demographics and attitudes toward natural disaster risks are associated with the relative importance of natural disasters for residential selection? and to what extent do the associated personal attributes influence the relative importance of natural disasters for residential selection? Design/methodology/approach: An internet-based survey was performed to collect 2,000 responses from residents of Osaka Prefecture, Japan, to gauge people’s relative importance of safety against natural disasters regarding residential preference. The obtained results were analysed using two types of statistical analysis, specifically chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Findings: It was found that 37.3% of the respondents in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, considered the “safety against natural disasters” relatively important when selecting a residential location. The statistical analysis also demonstrated that those having a relatively higher level of disaster awareness and preparedness were 1.41 times more likely to prefer to live in a place that is safer from natural disasters. Thus, it was suggested that disaster education aimed at raising the level of people’s disaster awareness could be effective to increase the number of people who choose to live in a safer place from natural disasters. Originality/value: Living in an area that is safer from natural disasters can effectively minimize human and property damage. Recently, several measures have been taken in Japan to guide people to live in a safer place. The clarification of the extent to which people consider natural disaster risks as important for residential selection and the understanding of the categories of the people who are likely to do so is important to develop more effective natural disaster measures; however, there has been less attention on such investigation. Therefore, this study conducted an internet-based survey and examined it.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | city planning; disaster management; disaster prevention; natural disasters; residential choice; residential preference |
| Index terms: | investigation, logistic regression analysis, disaster management, internet, demographics, case study, statistical analysis, methodology, preference, city planning, disaster prevention, natural disaster, relative importance, survey, Japan |
| Subjects: | data science, computing systems, risk assessment, data collection methods, statistical analysis, environmental hazards, demography, Geography, urban design, financial risk, research methods, decision-making and reasoning |
| Topics: | Cost Management, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Risk Management, Sustainability, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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