Historical memory and natural hazards in neogeographic mapping technologies

Abstract

In the last decade, interest in geoethics and the ethical, sociological, and cultural implications of Earth Sciences has increased considerably. This involves emphasizes the fundamental role of geological and geographical studies in finding solutions to practical problems which humans face and are also compatible with the preservation of nature and the planet. In this context any member of society can play an active role during natural catastrophes. This is illustrated by the results of a questionnaire which was given to students and adults in Calabria and Basilicata two regions in southern Italy with medium–high occurrences of seismic hazard. The questionnaire was aimed at evaluating the knowledge that people effectively possessed in reacting and adapting earthquakes (related to age, experience, and area of earthquakes origin.). As part of the evaluation, the same questionnaire was given to students in Malta, a zone of low-to-moderate seismic hazard where awareness of human action, decisive in turning an extreme event in a disaster emerged in the results. To effectively evaluate the risk, it is not enough to understand the hazard, but to assess the vulnerability of cultural heritage in the area, affected by natural disasters. In this work we present two case-studies. First, an open source GIS project conducted in Calabria, focusing enhancing cultural tourism, the historical memory of a region and seismic hazard risk education; and secondly on web applications concerning the perception of earthquakes in Maltese citizens.