Geohazard Prevention Framework: Introducing a Cumulative Index in the Context of Management and Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage Areas

Abstract

Geohazards pose an essential role to the preservation of cultural and natural heritage areas, given their valuable significance in terms of scenic, natural, and cultural characteristics, forming unique landscapes that require proactive action to achieve sustainable environmental management. To address these challenges, a methodological framework focusing on geohazard prevention, emphasizing the importance of a pre-management stage that enables stakeholders to prioritize resources and implement landscape planning strategies, is proposed in this paper. In this framework, an integrated set of geospatial, geological, meteorological, and other relevant environmental factors to quantify cumulative geohazard zones in heritage areas is utilized. Implementing advanced tools such as geographic information systems (GISs), remote sensing techniques, and geospatial data analysis, a clustering and characterization of various geohazards is obtained, providing a comprehensive understanding of their cumulative impacts. The introduction of a cumulative geohazard index is proposed in this paper to better understand and then assess the impacts of environmental-driven geohazards that may affect cultural and natural heritage areas to be embedded into the impact assessment process. The validation of the proposed geohazard framework and index is performed in the Parrhasian Heritage Park in Peloponnese, Greece. The outcomes of the analysis highlight the need to mitigate geohazard impacts through early and in situ targeted actions to facilitate the decision-making process and contribute to the protection of evolving landscapes with cultural and natural elements for future generations.