Exploring the Spatial Perception of Risk in Portugal by Students of Geography

Abstract

This study set out to assess the ability of year nine students to identify and classify the most likely natural and mixed risks, both on a national scale and within the Metropolitan Area of Porto (AMP). We also sought to assess the respective spatial perception of different risks at regional level. For this purpose, a questionnaire was applied and the results show that the students classified the risk of forest fire as the most likely to occur, both nationwide and in all AMP municipalities, with a rating ranging from high to moderate, respectively. In spatial terms, they clearly define the areas most vulnerable to each of the listed risks, identifying forest fires and heat waves as most likely to occur, and the northern and coastal regions of Portugal where the greatest number of risks are concentrated.

Keywords:

• Risk education
• spatial perception
• Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP)
• Portugal

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Regional Development Funds, through the COMPETE 2020—Operational Program “Competitiveness and Internationalization,” under grant no. POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006891; and by National Funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under Grant UID/GEO/04084/2013.

Notes on contributors

Adélia Nunes

Adélia Nunes is Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Tourism, Faculty of Arts, University of Coimbra, Landscape dynamics, analysis of environmental risks (with special emphasis on forest fires, soil erosion, trends in surface water resources) and changes in ecosystem services are the main subjects of research. She has published several dozen scientific works, including book chapters and papers in specialty journals.

Bruno Martins

Bruno Martins is Professor in the Engineering and Technologies Faculty, Lusófona of Porto University, and Researcher at the Center of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT), Portugal. The author of several publications including books, papers on journals, book chapters and papers in proceedings books with peer review. Throughout the recent years, he has developed research in geographical education, geomorphology, natural hazards in the central and northern region of Portugal and Cape Verde.

Maria Azevedo

Maria Azevedo has a Degree and Master in Educational Sciences from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Porto and PhD in Equity and Innovation in Education from the University of Santiago de Compostela. Since 2005 he teaches in Higher Education, having collaborated with different public and private institutions, namely ESE Jean Piaget de Macedo de Cavaleiros, ESE of Viana do Castelo and ESE de Bragança with which he has maintained, since 2010, to the present, a part-time collaboration. He is a full-time professor at ISCE Douro, in Penafiel, where he ensures the coordination of the Education department.