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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Hazards and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 October 2026 | Viewed by 6814

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ranit Chatterjee

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Guest Editor

School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
Interests: disaster risk reduction; disaster policy; architecture; heritage; innovation; disaster governance; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Abhinandan Saikia

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Guest Editor

Centre for Ecology, Environment and Sustainable Development, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Tata Institute of Social Sciences Guwahati, Guwahati, India
Interests: sustainability; heritage; policy; ecology

Dr. Tanaya Sarmah

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Guest Editor

Department of Architecture, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
Interests: architecture; urban planning; disaster risk management; urban resilience; critical infrastructure; WEF nexus

Dr. Somnath Bera

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Guest Editor

Department of Geography, Central University of South Bihar (Gaya) Room No 231, Chanakya Bhawan, Gaya Panchanpur Road, Village—Karhara, Post. Fatehpur, Gaya 824236 (Bihar), India
Interests: disaster risk and resilience

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Community can be called a system of systems having complex interactions of social, economic, political, institutional, cultural, and environmental systems. Community resilience helps communities to thrive in the face of change, uncertainty, unpredictability, and surprise. Needless to say, focusing on the community’s resilience is crucial to preparing for, adapting to, and recovering from disasters. The journey of building community resilience through sustainable disaster management practices and solutions is crucial for achieving the targets of reducing life and economic losses set forth by the Sendai framework. A common approach to community resilience is programs-based, which is supported by major supported by government, international NGOs, Academia, or private sector entities. The life cycle of such programs is majorly dependent on fund availability and showcasing the positive impacts. many of the activities associated with community resilience face issues of ownership creation, funding availability, data limitations, and governance, among others. Furthermore, due to uncertainty in the return period of disasters, programs seldom get to evaluate the effectiveness against a real disaster scenario as part of their life cycle. The lack of a multidisciplinary framework for community resilience and limited quantification, along with inadequate longitudinal and evidence-based studies, lead to inconsistencies in theories and practices.

This special issue is an attempt to address the above-mentioned gaps and revisit the theories and practices of community resilience while being mindful of their linkage with sustainability. We implore researchers and practitioners to use a system resilience approach to address the theoretical and implementation challenges in community resilience.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ranit Chatterjee
Dr. Abhinandan Saikia
Dr. Tanaya Sarmah
Dr. Somnath Bera
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

community resilience
resilience theory
systems of systems
critical infrastructure
socio-ecological resilience
economic resilience
risk governance
disaster recovery
social systems
computation models
engineering
resilience framework
sustainability

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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39 pages, 990 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spontaneous Volunteer Task Assignment in the Acute Phase of Disaster Response: A Rolling-Horizon MIP Approach

by Berk Özel, Bülent Sezen and Yavuz Selim Balcıoğlu

Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4915; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104915 - 14 May 2026

Viewed by 152

Abstract

This paper presents a dynamic multi-period mixed-integer programming model for the Disaster Volunteer Task Assignment Problem (DVTAP) that advances the humanitarian logistics literature through an integrated treatment of features that have previously appeared only in isolation. Unlike prior formulations that assume volunteer surplus or steady-state conditions, our model reflects the acute-phase reality where tasks far exceed available volunteers and new task arrivals diminish over time as the disaster stabilizes. We incorporate makespan as an optimization objective alongside deprivation-weighted response time, skill matching, workload balance, and volunteer reliability. Ideal-nadir normalization ensures that all objective components contribute meaningfully regardless of their native units. The approach proceeds in two stages. First, we formulate and solve a single-period baseline MIP under volunteer surplus using the CBC solver at four scales (10 to 500 tasks). All four instances are solved to proven optimality, achieving 80 to 100% task coverage with skill-matching rates of 76.9 to 99.6%. Second, we develop a rolling-horizon algorithm that decomposes the multi-period problem into sequential epoch-level MIPs with state transitions, non-homogeneous Poisson task arrivals, fatigue accumulation, and task surplus conditions where the initial task-to-volunteer ratio exceeds 3:1. Computational experiments on three dynamic scenarios (up to 559 mean cumulative tasks) demonstrate that the algorithm achieves mean task completion rates of 84.21 ± 1.92% (Large-Dynamic), 93.74 ± 2.07% (Small-Dynamic), and 94.59 ± 2.03% (Medium-Dynamic) (mean ± standard deviation across 30 Monte Carlo replications) within a 15 h planning horizon, with per-epoch skill-matching rates of 11 to 20% (substantially lower than the static baseline due to triage-mode epochs that force all-volunteer assignment regardless of skill fit). The results reveal a clear regime transition: early epochs operate under severe task surplus where triage dominates, while later epochs transition to volunteer surplus where optimization of secondary objectives becomes feasible. Comparison against a skill-aware greedy heuristic confirms that the MIP’s advantage lies in global multi-objective coordination. This research contributes both a validated mathematical framework and a practical algorithmic approach for multi-period volunteer assignment under demand decay, extending prior work by Sperling and Schryenthrough explicit Poisson dynamics, fatigue state modeling, and makespan optimization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Disaster Management and Community Resilience)

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19 pages, 535 KB

Open AccessArticle

Latent Profiles of Eco-Anxiety: Resilience, and Vulnerability Factors in a Portuguese-Sample

by Paulo Ferrajão, Nuno Torres and Amadeu Quelhas Martins

Sustainability 2026, 18(9), 4345; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18094345 - 28 Apr 2026

Viewed by 438

Abstract

Eco-anxiety refers to emotional and cognitive responses to environmental degradation and can manifest in both adaptive and maladaptive forms. This study aimed to identify distinct eco-anxiety profiles and examine their associations with resilience and vulnerability factors in a sample of 917 Portuguese-speaking adults. Latent profile analysis revealed five profiles: adaptive eco-anxiety, highly impaired maladaptive eco-anxiety, psychological distress independent of eco-anxiety, non-anxious/disengaged, and moderate I I have separated the addresses into different affiliations.have separated the addresses into different affiliations.eco-anxiety. These profiles differed significantly in psychological symptomatology, nature connectedness, pro-environmental attitudes, and prior exposure to cumulative social and environmental stressors. Higher-distress profiles were more likely among younger individuals, women, urban residents, unemployed participants, those without children, individuals with a prior psychiatric history, and those reporting direct exposure to drought. In contrast, stronger environmental identity and greater engagement with natural environments were associated with adaptive eco-anxiety, suggesting protective and resilience-promoting mechanisms. Overall, the findings highlight the multidimensional and heterogeneous nature of eco-anxiety and its complex relationship with psychological well-being and environmental engagement. Tailored interventions that promote adaptive coping, strengthen psychological resources, and facilitate access to natural environments may help mitigate maladaptive distress while supporting constructive environmental concern and action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Disaster Management and Community Resilience)

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18 pages, 37561 KB

Open AccessArticle

Resilience and Response: Understanding Community’s Policy Perspectives on Flood and Erosion in Assam

by Abhinandan Saikia, Chinmoyee Deka and Ranit Chatterjee

Sustainability 2026, 18(9), 4216; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18094216 - 23 Apr 2026

Viewed by 862

Abstract

As a chronic flood and erosion-prone region in India, Assam faces perpetual challenges in managing and mitigating the impacts of natural hazards every year. Despite participatory policy and communication approaches, communities in the region do not feel included in the planning and decision-making processes of mitigation and prevention. The study conducts a stakeholder perception analysis using a qualitative approach through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and semi-structured and structured interviews with flood-prone communities of Barpeta, Dibrugarh, and Majuli districts in Assam. The thematic analysis revealed multiple gaps in the policy planning and implementation stages where the traditional knowledge of communities has been ignored, while also revealing gendered silences and communication fallouts. The increasing frequency and intensity of floods, along with untimely modern interventions, have convinced communities to combine modern mitigation strategies with their traditional mitigation strategies like stilt houses, but engineers and policymakers often bypass the traditional knowledge of communities. The study calls for a multi-faceted approach to flood and erosion management by addressing the infrastructural and socio-cultural challenges, and involving communities more actively in the planning and decision-making processes, re-emphasizing the importance of SDG 13 and SDG 17. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Disaster Management and Community Resilience)

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32 pages, 3399 KB

Open AccessArticle

Micro-Scale Agent-Based Modeling of Hurricane Evacuation Under Compound Wind–Surge Hazards: A Case Study of Westbrook, Connecticut

by Omar Bustami, Francesco Rouhana, Alok Sharma, Wei Zhang and Amvrossios Bagtzoglou

Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3182; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073182 - 24 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 426

Abstract

Hurricanes create compound hazards such as storm surge, flooding, and wind-driven debris that can degrade roadway capacity, fragment network connectivity, and hinder evacuation and shelter operations. From a sustainability perspective, improving evacuation planning is essential for reducing disaster-related losses, protecting vulnerable populations, and strengthening the resilience of coastal communities facing intensifying climate-driven hazards. This paper develops a micro-scale, agent-based evacuation modeling framework to assess evacuation performance under baseline and compound-hazard conditions, with emphasis on municipal decision support. The framework is demonstrated for Westbrook, Connecticut, at the census block-group scale in AnyLogic by integrating household locations, vehicle availability, road-network connectivity, and shelter capacities from publicly available datasets. Evacuation propensity and destination choice are parameterized using survey data, enabling empirically grounded decisions for in-town versus out-of-town evacuation among household-vehicle agents. Compound disruptions are represented through flood-related road closures derived from SLOSH storm-surge outputs and stochastic wind-related disruptions that dynamically constrain accessibility during the simulation. Scenarios are evaluated for Saffir–Simpson Category 1–2 and Category 3–4 hurricanes under baseline and compound conditions. Model outputs quantify normalized evacuation time, congestion and critical intersections, shelter demand and unmet capacity, evacuation failure, and spatial heterogeneity across block groups. Results indicate that compound flooding substantially increases evacuation times and failure rates, with the largest performance degradation concentrated in higher-vulnerability areas. Optimization experiments further compare the effectiveness of behavioral shifts, shelter-capacity expansion, and earlier departure timing in reducing delays and unmet shelter demand. Overall, the proposed framework provides transparent, reproducible, and scalable analytics that town engineers and emergency planners can use to evaluate evacuation readiness under compound hurricane impacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Disaster Management and Community Resilience)

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18 pages, 2815 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Knowledge Systems Towards Flood Resilience and Sustainable Solid Waste Management in South African Urban Informal Settlements

by Admire Mutsa Nyamwanza, Katelyn Johnson, Anele Mthembu, Zwivhuya Caroline Tshivhundo and Natasha Brown

Sustainability 2026, 18(6), 2960; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18062960 - 17 Mar 2026

Viewed by 921

Abstract

The frequency and severity of extreme weather events have increased due to climate change, with floods emerging as one of the most common climate change-induced disasters the world over. South Africa is one of the countries most susceptible to floods in Southern Africa. Among the main factors exacerbating the impact of floods, particularly in urban areas in Africa, is waste. This article contributes solutions in dealing with the flood and solid waste challenges in urban informal settlements in South Africa through exploring the potential benefits of knowledge systems integration in tackling such challenges. Using the case of the Quarry Road West informal settlement in eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, the paper discusses the roles played by scientific, practitioner and local knowledge systems in responding to flood risk and solid waste challenges in this area over the years and the benefits that could be realised if these knowledge systems are deployed in a systematically integrated manner. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Disaster Management and Community Resilience)

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20 pages, 756 KB

Open AccessArticle

Resilient Systems: AI-Mediated Communication and Frontline Public Safety

by Jocelyn R. Barrett and Karina V. Korostelina

Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 1071; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18021071 - 21 Jan 2026

Viewed by 1089

Abstract

This study investigates how first responder departments in Virginia’s 8th congressional district incorporate AI to enhance resilience within their teams and the communities they serve. Drawing on interviews with key personnel, the study employs an inductive thematic analysis to trace how AI is perceived to influence emergency communication, situational awareness, decision-making, and disaster management. Findings reveal an interplay between AI tools and human-centered resilience, with four key themes emerging: community engagement, training, team cohesion, and mental health. These themes underscore that AI is a technical asset that can support emotional well-being, institutional trust, and enhance operational readiness. The study contributes to ongoing debates on AI’s role in disaster management by underlining the human dimensions of technology alongside its implications for community resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Disaster Management and Community Resilience)

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Review

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31 pages, 1438 KB

Open AccessReview

A Conceptual Decision-Support Agent-Based Framework for Evacuation Planning Under Compound Hazards

by Omar Bustami, Francesco Rouhana and Amvrossios Bagtzoglou

Sustainability 2026, 18(8), 3658; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18083658 - 8 Apr 2026

Viewed by 543

Abstract

Evacuation planning is increasingly challenged by compound hazards in which interacting threats degrade infrastructure, influence human behavior, and destabilize transportation systems. Although agent-based models and dynamic traffic simulations have advanced substantially, much of the evacuation literature remains hazard-specific, case-bound, or difficult to transfer across regions. In parallel, transportation resilience research shows that multi-hazard effects are often non-additive and that cascading infrastructure failures can amplify disruption beyond directly affected areas, raising important sustainability concerns related to community safety, infrastructure continuity, social equity, and long-term planning capacity. These realities motivate the development of evacuation modeling frameworks that are modular, adaptable, and capable of representing co-evolving behavioral and network processes under compound hazard conditions. This review synthesizes advances in evacuation agent-based modeling, dynamic traffic assignment, hazard-induced network degradation, and compound disaster research to propose an adaptable compound-hazard evacuation framework integrating three interdependent layers: hazard processes, transportation network dynamics, and agent decision-making. The proposed framework is organized around four principles: (1) modular hazard representation, (2) decoupling behavioral decision logic from hazard physics, (3) dynamic network state evolution, and (4) neighborhood-scale performance metrics. To support sustainable and equitable local planning, the framework prioritizes spatially resolved outputs, including neighborhood clearance time, isolation probability, accessibility loss, and shelter demand imbalance. By emphasizing modularity, configurability, and policy-relevant metrics, this review connects methodological advances in evacuation modeling to the broader sustainability goals of resilient infrastructure systems, inclusive disaster risk reduction, and locally informed emergency planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Disaster Management and Community Resilience)

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