Territorial vulnerability analysis: the methodological framework

This is the first of three papers presented by the Politecnico di Milano. The papers are focused on some aspects of the European research project QUATER ("QUARTER" TERritorial QUAlity, territorial risk management systems of municipality", project INTERREG IIIB MEDOC, research group of Politecnico di Milano coordinated by Maria Cristina Treu). The research aim is the development of a territorial management system for the territorial risk reduction (natural and anthropogenic risks) and environmental quality improvement. This paper presents the territorial vulnerability assessment method developed. The vulnerability assessment framework is a part of the Environmental Management System procedure (referred to the Municipal government level and finalised to territorial risk mitigation). Three methodological steps have been identified: one preliminary analysis step and two detailed analysis steps. The first step output is the risk analysis definition (based on the informational data that can be collected in a short time). The second step output is the territorial risk assessment (based on the results of the first step). The third step is focused on the analysis/assessment improvement of more critical areas (vulnerable). The monitoring of action and target achievement is an integrated part of the methodological framework. The monitoring permits one to enhance/increase basic knowledge (territorial informational data) and to improve the Environmental Management System.