RISK ASSESSMENT IN URBAN-PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT - A METROPOLITAN EXAMPLE

Risk assessment has become a major issue to widen the horizons of urban planning and management to meet new goals. Of great significance in such assessments is the prediction and evaluation of existing and potential human health effects due to energy sources and usage. In this article, the author presents the main findings of a MAB project in Seoul, which was conducted as a third phase of ecological studies of Seoul Urban Systems, under the auspices of the National MAB Committee of the Republic of Korea, with the financial support of UNESCO-MAB. A case of assessing environmental risks in Seoul, Korea, is studied to demonstrate the concept and mechanics of the risk assessment methods by an analysis of the relationship between SO2, NOx, CO, TSP exposure and the related increase in respiratory diseases and mortality. It is argued that by better understanding of the cause and effect relationship between energy utilisation and environmental health and by integrating urbanism and risk issues through the planning process - a process of integration, cities can be planned and managed for greater safety. © 1991.