@article{bde9251e519b4fd58718399cabe9392a,
title = "Possibilities and limitations of interdisciplinary, user-oriented research: Experiences from the German research network natural disasters",
abstract = "The German Research Network for Natural Disasters (DFNK) linked 15 partners with scientific expertise in the field of natural hazards. Main objectives were the development and provision of the scientific fundamentals for an advanced risk management of important natural disasters in Germany, i.e., floods, earthquakes, storms and wildland fires. This included risk analyses, the development of information systems for supporting disaster management, and recommendations for risk reduction measures. This paper gives an overview of DFNK and summarises its experiences concerning multidisciplinarity and user-orientation. It illustrates the concept of risk chains, causally linking the different processes from hazard to risk. The step from hazard to risk requires interdisciplinary research teams. The experiences show that integrative concepts allow results not achievable with mono-disciplinary approaches. Integrative approaches pave the way to harmonised safety considerations taking into account the different hazards in a region within a common framework. User-orientation, policy advice and development of operational tools are key issues of disaster research. The experiences of DFNK illustrate the limitations of a research network in bridging the gap between research and application within rather short-term projects. Successful cooperation with users could be established by those activities where, at the beginning of the project, a user was identified who had a strong interest in solving an urgent problem.",
keywords = "Earthquakes, End-user, Floods, Information systems, Knowledge transfer, Risk assesment, Storms, Wildland fires",
author = "Bruno Merz and Jana Friedrich and Markus Disse and Jochen Schwarz and Goldammer, {Johann G.} and Jochen W{\"a}chter",
note = "Funding Information: The cluster {\textquoteleft}Forest fire simulation system{\textquoteright} included three major components. The first component provided the development of an innovative conceptual model for a fire information system and decision support for early warning, monitoring, information management and simulation of wildfires in pine forests of Brandenburg State (Germany), a region of high wildfire hazard as compared to other regions in Germany. The system included: • the adaptation of fire behaviour simulations models BEHAVE and FARSITE (Burgan and Rothermel, 1984; Finney, 1998) implemented by the Fire Ecology Research Group • a fire detection component (Automated Fire Detection System – AWFS) developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) • a fire danger rating and forecast system implemented by the German Meteorological Service (DWD). The development of the small satellite demonstrator mission {\textquoteleft}Bi-spectral InfraRed Detection{\textquoteright} (BIRD) by the Institute of Space Sensor Technology and Planetary Exploration of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) was supported by the cluster, especially during the forest fire experiments 2001 and 2003. The overall aim of this component was to support the development of an innovative, {\textquoteleft}intelligent{\textquoteright} space-borne sensing system describing fire location and characteristics in unprecedented precision. Funding Information: The work of the cluster {\textquoteleft}Earthquake risk analysis{\textquoteright} was arranged at four different spatial scales. At the country-wide scale a new generation of earthquake hazard maps for Germany and neighbouring areas were developed. These hazard estimates include uncertainty and error ranges for input data using the logic-tree-method as well as new data regarding seismogenic potential of earthquake source regions in Germany (sub-project B1; Gr{\"u}nthal and Wahlstr{\"o}m, 2006). The earthquake hazard estimation at this scale is supported by the compilation of neo-tectonic data (sub-project C2, Goebell and Wetzel, 2006) and data regarding the strain-field.",
year = "2006",
month = may,
doi = "10.1007/s11069-005-8597-1",
language = "English",
volume = "38",
pages = "3--20",
journal = "Natural Hazards",
issn = "0921-030X",
publisher = "Springer Science and Business Media B.V.",
number = "1-2",
}