High-resolution multi-hazard residential buildings and population exposure model for coastal areas: A case study in northeastern Italy

Developing high-resolution multi-hazard exposure models significantly improves risk assessment and loss estimation. In the present study, we propose and verify a methodology for developing a high-resolution exposure model for population and residential buildings that could be used for multi-hazard risk mitigation at the local scale across the globe. The methodology is applied to Lignano municipality, a coastal area located in the northern Adriatic, prone to multiple hazards such as seismically-induced tsunamis, meteorological events, coastal erosion and subsidence. The population exposure layer is developed integrating population data with demographic characteristics and socio-economic indicators. In parallel, the building exposure layer, which combines census data with digital building footprints, contains information about: geographic distribution, age of construction or retrofit, number of storeys, construction material types, average built-up area, structural replacement cost, and structural regularity. These data layers are made available at two resolutions: 100 m and 30 m, with information also provided at the census unit level. We describe the methodology developed for exposure assessment and discuss its potential use for multi-hazard risk assessment in coastal areas.