A Comparison of Different Reconstruction Modes and Adaptive Evaluation Systems for Community Recovery Following the Wenchuan Earthquake

Abstract

Living environment reconstruction in Wenchuan earthquake disaster-hit areas received substantial attention internationally, so it is imperative to examine out the methods employed, to evaluate community reconstruction and recovery performances. However, the existing evaluation systems for post-disaster reconstruction practices are mostly generalized models, and thus, the actual differences among various reconstruction modes and local characteristics are given insufficient attention. After 10 years of reconstruction and recovery, Dujiangyan, Beichuan, and Wenchuan have exhibited distinct differences and characteristics because of two different reconstruction modes: “paired assistance” and “self-construction”. Based on a thorough review of the literature and expert judgments, this article focuses on the introduction of evaluation factors comprising the opinions and requirements of disaster victims. Adopting the “four-step method” to select the evaluation factors through conceptual consolidation, analytical structuring, indicator identification, and index creation, this article summarizes the homogeneities and heterogeneities of the three different areas. The results reveal that people in different areas under the influences of different reconstruction modes and local characteristics will emphasize different evaluation factors and demonstrate different levels of concern for the same factor. This article analyzes the three areas and establishes an adaptable evaluation index system to provide scientific guidance to community recovery evaluations in different areas after major disasters.