Every summer, Hong Kong is faced with multiple typhoons and excessive rainfall, consequently inducing landslides, increasing potential disaster threats. Prevention of landslides is the best way to combat such natural phenomenon.
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Publications & Research
Publications & Research
We provide a platform between researchers, disaster practitioners, healthcare professionals and students for expertise exchange, collaboration and policy discussion.
Publications & Research
The HKJCDPRI Publications Section contains collaborative researches and publications with our partners and renowned academic institutions, and other research and development projects related to disaster preparedness and response.
The Guidelines section contains our selected collection of technical information, operational guidelines and useful tools for disaster management.
The Blog sub-section provides a platform where our team and peers share news and updates, as well as opinions and experiences in building disaster preparedness for the communities.
The blog posts are written by the author in his own personal capacity / affiliation stated. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in the post belong solely to the author and does not necessarily represent those of Hong Kong Jockey Club Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute.
All resources listed here are freely and publicly available, unless specified otherwise. We ask users to use them with respect and credit the authors as appropriate.
2018
30/04/2018
Every summer, Hong Kong is faced with multiple typhoons and excessive rainfall, consequently inducing landslides, increasing potential disaster threats. Prevention of landslides is the best way to combat such natural phenomenon.
We have a piece of good news to share with you all! A research project jointly organized by Hong Kong Jockey Club Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute (HKJCDPRI), The Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is currently underway to carry out a pilot test for a smart landslide barrier system. The impact switch uses a simple, energy-saving design. If successful, it will be one of the first successful applications to provide critical real-time detection of landslide impact and even serve as an early-warning system to downstream facilities.
In order to understand more about the upcoming research on a Smart Landslide Barrier system HKJCDPRI visited the large-scale flume model at the Hong Kong Kadoorie Centre on the 29 Sept 2017 to learn more about the research on interaction between landslides and barriers.
The geotechnical centrifuge at the HKUST Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory
A 20-m-long flume model to study the fundamental interaction mechanisms between landslides and barriers at the Kadoorie Centre
Visit to the HKUST large-scale debris flow flume facility between HKUST and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute
(from third to the left on the front row: Mr. Roger Cheung (previous Assistant Director of HKJCDPRI); Ms. Tiffany Yeung (Manager (Professional Development) of HKJCDPRI); Ms. Eva Lam (Director of HKJCDPRI); Dr. Chow Yu Fat (Executive Committee member of HKJCDPRI); Dr. Clarence Choi (Principal Investigator of the research)
14/03/2018
The research entitled “Smart Landslide Information System” led by the research team of the Department of Civil and Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute was completed in November 2017.
A hilly terrain and seasonal torrential rainfalls present Hong Kong with the ideal conditions for landslides. With the advent of climate change, the number, scale, spatial extent, and frequency of landslides are expected to be unprecedented. With a comprehensive and world-leading slope safety system in place, there are always opportunities to examine ways to embrace technology and try to further enhance the management of landslide disasters to cope with the dynamic climate conditions that the world is facing.
The research entitled “Smart Landslide Information System” led by the research team of the Department of Civil and Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute was completed in November 2017.
A hilly terrain and seasonal torrential rainfalls present Hong Kong with the ideal conditions for landslides. With the advent of climate change, the number, scale, spatial extent, and frequency of landslides are expected to be unprecedented. With a comprehensive and world-leading slope safety system in place, there are always opportunities to examine ways to embrace technology and try to further enhance the management of landslide disasters to cope with the dynamic climate conditions that the world is facing.
09/03/2018
The increasing frequency of natural disasters around the world has been accompanied by concomitant, growing sophistication in disaster planning and response. In recent years, incident command systems, mass casualty trainings, triage protocols, inter-agency communication strategies, along with backup systems for power, personnel, and equipment have all seen an exponential growth in competence and understanding
The increasing frequency of natural disasters around the world has been accompanied by concomitant, growing sophistication in disaster planning and response. In recent years, incident command systems, mass casualty trainings, triage protocols, inter-agency communication strategies, along with backup systems for power, personnel, and equipment have all seen an exponential growth in competence and understanding
01/03/2018
Housing has been a challenge faced by people from all walks of life in Hong Kong. Many have to turn to improper accommodation with poor living environment, including sub-divided flats, cage homes, bedspace apartment, partitioned rooms or rooftop slump.
Regarding inappropriate accommodation, the major concern is its poor living environment, In addition to cramped living space and unsatisfactory indoor air quality, the potential risks induced by building constructions or design must not be overlooked.
Housing has been a challenge faced by people from all walks of life in Hong Kong. Many have to turn to improper accommodation with poor living environment, including sub-divided flats, cage homes, bedspace apartment, partitioned rooms or rooftop slump.
Regarding inappropriate accommodation, the major concern is its poor living environment, In addition to cramped living space and unsatisfactory indoor air quality, the potential risks induced by building constructions or design must not be overlooked.
HKJCDPRI collaborated with the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Lady MacLehose Centre (HKSKHLMC) in 2017 to conduct a survey titled “Community Survey on Physical and Mental risks resulted from Inappropriate Living Environment”, which investigated the impact of four major factors, including fire safety, security, hygiene and risks in indoor environment on residents’ mental health conditions.
The survey was conducted between October and November in the form of purposive sampling. Ten residents living in sub-divided flats in Kwai Tsing district were invited to semi-structured interviews. For a more accurate understanding of the interviewees’ quality of life and mental health conditions, the survey was supplemented by two surveys, namely WHOQOL-BREF (HK) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21)).
Results showed that the ten respondents living in sub-divided flats are exposed to hidden risks, big and small, in fire safety, security and hygiene. As a result, their physical and mental well-being are constantly at stake. As far as mental health is concerned, seven of them showed symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress; nine experienced mental distress after moving into subdivided flats - two of whom were diagnosed with a mental disorder.
Survey report has suggested that in view of the environmental risks, the government could consider subsidizing residents living in fire-prone areas, the elderly or low-income households to acquire disaster preparedness equipment, such as smoke and gas leakage detectors, fire blankets and dry powder extinguishers. In addition, it could join hands with community organizations to conduct extensive education work on hygiene and fire safety, while launching education plans such as the “Fire Safety Ambassador Scheme” to strengthen residents’ disaster response capacities.
As for mental well-being, the government and community organizations could launch the "District Mental Health Ambassador Scheme” by means of diversified publicity campaigns and education work, so as to promote mental health and provide related resources to residents in improper accommodation. It is hoped that residents can identify their own issues early and build up a community support network to help people help themselves.
To view the survey result (Chinese version only)：居危思安_不適切居所住戶的環境安全及精神健康調查報告.pdf
