The Mapping of Social Vulnerability Index by GIS: A Case Study of ？zmir

For In recent time, spatial risks produced by natural disasters or human impacts have been threatening the rapidly growing world population. Distorted urbanization, unplanned construction and the unconscious use of human resources lead to an increase in losses in disastrous situations. This situation revealed the need to make more effective decisions in the planning and management stages before and after the risk. In disaster management, not only physical factors but also socioeconomic and demographic structure of society should be taken into consideration. In this context, the concept of “social vulnerability” stands out. Detection of vulnerable groups whom are disadvantageous groups of people, has great importance for dealing with risks before and after they occur. In the protection and recover stages, when the concept of vulnerability is integrated with spatial data, better results could be obtained. It is not appropriate evaluate the society apart from the spatial and socio-political variables. At this point, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), which have strong decision support systems against spatial problems, have been one of the tools required in the analysis of vulnerability. In this study, social vulnerability index (SoVI) of ？zmir province was calculated and mapped with GIS methods. Thus, it was made possible to identify priority regions in risky situations and to evaluate the qualitative needs of social groups in these regions