DISASTER RISK REDUCTION THROUGH LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITIES ENHANCEMENTLocal resources and multilevel cooperation: towards long-term prevention strategies: Theme 7: Ancient/Historic and Innovative Solutions for Damage Prevention and Performance Improvement in the event of Natural Disasters

Abstract

International audienceIn disaster prone areas, local communities have always faced natural hazards and, over time, have managed to develop different strategies to prevent and/or reduce their impact. Local builders have often integrated natural risks into their daily practices, developing in many cases singular techniques, building details or devices aiming at reducing the vulnerability of the built environment. Such indigenous knowledge can contribute to the development of disaster-resistant engineering through the analysis of vernacular building practices and the potentials offered by locally available resources (materials, knowledge and know-how). The aim of this article is to illustrate a number of practices based on an action-research process, integrating elements of local building cultures, and proposing a methodology for the enhancement of local capacities and know-how through technology transfer and knowledge sharing.