Transboundary vulnerability and risk management mechanisms: a uniform platform and the Spanish-Portuguese case

Abstract

This paper unveils the VESPRA Tool (Vulnerable Elements in Spain and Portugal and Risk Assessment), a cutting-edge digital open-source Geographic Information System (GIS) designed to provide an essential overview of potential hazards in the transboundary region between Spain and Portugal. To enhance risk management for local threats, such as wildfires, industrial accidents, nuclear incidents, and extreme weather, VESPRA addresses the urgent need for timely and accurate information about vulnerable elements. Emergency managers cannot afford to operate without the latest data in a world where extreme events are becoming increasingly frequent and intense. The VESPRA Tool offers a dynamic platform that guarantees easy access for users and civil protection agents, equipping them with essential digital information on various hazards. Aligned with contemporary risk-science perspectives, this tool integrates quantitative hazard likelihoods and qualitative assessments of uncertainty in the underlying data, in line with the current evolving definition of risk as knowledge-dependent. This dual quantitative–qualitative approach not only enhances transparency and improves communication of uncertainty among decision-makers, but also supports evidence-based disaster management. This innovative tool is valuable throughout all phases of emergency management prevention, preparation, and response empowering decision-makers to plan effectively and respond swiftly in critical situations. Furthermore, the practical application of the VESPRA Tool is illustrated through a real-world case study of wildfires along the central Portuguese-Spanish border, demonstrating its potential to transform risk management and improve resilience in vulnerable areas.

Peer Reviewed

Postprint (author's final draft)