A multi-level characterization method for the assessment of urban ecological risks

ABSTRACT

Urban ecological risk characterization is the final step in risk assessment and an important foundation upon which risk managers build risk aversion, risk control, and emergency handling strategies. In this study, we reviewed present risk characterization methods and proposed a multi-level characterization method for the assessment of urban ecological risks. The new characterization method consists of four elements: urban ecological risk sources, risk source probabilities, assessment endpoint indicators, and assessment endpoint indicator probabilities. Using this method, results of risk assessments can be organized into different levels of detail to meet different risk management goals.

KEYWORDS:

• Urban ecological risk
• risk assessment
• risk characterization
• risk management
• decision support

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (71533003, 41301577) and the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFF0207301).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [71533003, 41301577] and the National Key R&D Program of China [2017YFF0207301].