Integrating Ecological Vulnerability and Climate Resiliency: A Novel Gis-Based Method for Fire Hazard Modeling

The recent expansion of municipality limits has resulted in an increase in the wildland-urban interface, causing fires in the wildlands to potentially encroach and enter urban centres. This paper proposes a fire risk modeling framework within a climate resiliency context. The study uses large-scale geospatial datasets in combination with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Using various high-resolution-detailed datasets, an extensive list of variables was utilized to develop a novel fire risk model. To support the goal of creating a climate resilient urban municipality, an ecological vulnerability classification map was constructed to identify developable areas and areas under preservation. Regarding creating awareness for climate adaptation and zone, a brief discussion on the role of each stakeholder is provided. The discussion covers strategies for fire prevention and mitigation in high-risk areas/zones, as well as establishing several cornerstones for strategic planning and action to strengthen climate resilience of urban communities.