Prof. Brian Pai

Department of Land Economics, National Chengchi University

Title

Disaster Risk Communication and Response Behavior based on Transportation Station Protection

Abstract

In recent years, our city has experienced natural or man-made disasters such as the 911 terror attacks, the Nari floods, the London Underground explosion and the 331 Japan Earthquake. Experts dealing with these incidents through planned response still have many uncertainties that affect the risk assessment and the implementation of policies. In particular, the space for mass transit stations is complex and crowded. It is even m ore necessary to protect the infrastructure with multifaceted protection strategy.

Station protection system within the transport management department and passengers. Through static social and economic mechanisms, they conduct dynamic risk communication and interaction for their own transport, consumption, and disaster prevention purposes. This research uses protection motivation theory and social-ecological systems theory to construct the station protection system and analyzes the risk communication process and the factors that influence their response behavior. The study found that although the station management department used a systematic approach to prevent and respond to disasters, it still failed to effectively provide information to help passengers to take appropriate autonomous response. Most passengers still not take any autonomous adaptation before the disaster. The response behavior of passengers is affected by risk perception, station equipment and environment. In addition, passengers in different stations have different perceptions of the environment, so their response ability and information trust degree are also different. On the other hand, commercial enterprises do not have their own business continuity management plan for disasters. They still rely on the government and transport management department for information and emergency guidance. This study suggests that station protection system should establish a diversified risk communication channels, conduct disaster prevention education exercises and improve protective equipment. The government would induce passengers to actively participate in the protection mechanism and to practice autonomous response behavior. This will help transport managers to implement the planned response and enhance the resilience of transit stations.