Evaluating hazard, vulnerability, and capacity through local knowledge for volcano risk reduction

Abstract

Indonesia has a high risk of geological disasters because its location is on the arc of plate movement. One of the main threats comes from Mount Merapi, an active volcano that often erupts, significantly impacting the surrounding community. This study uses the Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS) approach to assess the community’s hazard, vulnerability and capacity on the slopes of Mount Merapi, Magelang. This locale-based mapping integrates three main variables to provide a more comprehensive risk picture. The results show that 80% of households are in the high to very high hazard category, with the main threat types being volcanic ash and hot clouds. Household vulnerability varied, with 44.4% in the low category and 16% in the high category, indicating the presence of a significant population that was particularly vulnerable. On the other hand, the capacity of the community is still unevenly distributed, with almost half of the population having a very low capacity. Local Spatial Knowledge (LSK) is essential in reducing disaster risk, including public understanding of natural signs, safe evacuation routes and tradition-based mitigation strategies.
Contribution: The integration of LSK with Geographic Information System (GIS) technology strengthens the effectiveness of risk assessment, allowing for more accurate mapping and targeted intervention strategies. Public awareness of risks has grown significantly because of greater access to information enabled by digital technology, although local values still need to be preserved.