Whilst it is difficult to prevent natural disasters, it is important that cities plan to limit and mitigate the extent of the damage.  By implementing both ‘hard measures’ such as dam construction and ‘soft’ measures introducing resident warning systems they can reduce the human and infrastructure scale of a disaster.

Mapping, identifying sources, risk probability levels and mitigation strategies enable a city to understand the need for flood defence infrastructures and can ensure that masterplan and building designs address the issues. Many use flood risk analysis platforms which draw on a range of data providing clients with model scenarios and risk calculations to support decision-making.

The Good City should optimise design solutions such as orientation, siting, roof design, fin facades, reinforced windows, good insulation and ventilation, backup power systems and permeable landscapes to help counteract the impact of an extreme weather events on buildings. Effective policies, regulations and design codes are also essential to ensure resilient building performance standards are implemented.

All structures must be able to resist the external forces and loads imposed by extreme weather and earthquakes. To combat intense heat, thermal expansion, specialised concrete mixtures and reinforcement must all be considered.  In earthquake zones, a combination of concrete and steel are needed to resist horizontal inertial forces. Understanding the environmental conditions is how designers can help minimise the damage caused by natural disasters.

The Good City will include data monitors and smart systems to understand in real time the functioning of the city in order to pre-empt and mitigate extreme events.