Built-in resilience to disasters: a pre-emptive approach

Purpose – Professions involved with the construction industry need to become more aware of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) activities if lessons are to be learnt from the past and a resilient built environment attained in the future. This study has focused on identifying which construction associated stakeholders should be involved with DRM initiatives in the UK, and when these stakeholders should be involved. This research is thereby unique and a key step in the longer term aim of identifying how stakeholders should be involved and what issues they need to address regarding the integration of DRM into construction decision making. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents the findings of a UK-wide questionnaire survey, semi-structured interviews and a validation exercise involving a range of professionals from construction, planning, insurance, emergency management and local/national government agencies. Findings – This research identifies the key construction stakeholders that should be responsible for ensuring resilience issues become integrated and the key stages of the Design-Construction- Operation Process where their inputs are required. Originality/value – The finding presented are an important and logical step in the longer term aim of identifying how stakeholders should be better involved and what issues they need to address regarding the integration of DRM into construction decision making.