Urban Vulnerabilities in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: Visualizations of Human/Hazard Interactions

Rapid, unplanned urbanization in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, exposes residents to significant vulnerabilities, particularly related to environmental degradation and seismic risks. Unlike previous studies that primarily focus on socioeconomic factors, this research highlights the spatial and physical dimensions of these vulnerabilities—such as population density, road networks, vehicular traffic, garbage management, and open spaces—using three-dimensional visualizations to differentiate between high-risk and relatively safer urban areas. The study contributes a methodological framework for understanding human-hazard interactions in rapidly urbanizing cities of the Global South, offering insights applicable to similar socioeconomic and environmental contexts.

Bhattarai, K., & Conway, D. (2010). Urban Vulnerabilities in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: Visualizations of Human/Hazard Interactions. Journal of Geographic Information System, 02(02), 63–84. https://doi.org/10.4236/jgis.2010.22012