Community Vulnerability Assessment in New Orleans, Post-Katrina: Using Participatory Mapping to Complement the Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI)
Open AccessThis research examines the potential of participatory mapping to complement demographic indicators of vulnerability assessment such as the Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI). Due to the wealth of geospatial and demographic data available as well as a known exposure to natural hazards, New Orleans was selected as the study site for this research. A SoVI analysis was conducted at the tract-level for New Orleans based on 2000 Census data. A participatory mapping exercise was then conducted to analyze the vulnerabilities confronting New Orleans' Mid-City Neighborhood almost five years after Hurricane Katrina. Results indicated that participatory mapping was able to highlight several significant shifts in Mid-City's vulnerabilities, capacities and hazards when compared to SoVI's measurement of vulnerability. SoVI analysis for Mid-City indicated that central Mid-City was more vulnerable than surrounding neighborhoods, while results from the participatory mapping exercise demonstrated important capabilities in central Mid-City and a shift of vulnerabilities towards the northeast portion of Mid-City. Blighted housing, crime, changing demographics and an emerging network of local organizations devoted to sustainable development are a few of the important insights described in participatory mapping process that would be useful information in updating vulnerability measurements as captured by SoVI.
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