A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Urban Environmental Management

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2009

Natural disaster hazards in coastal cities are unavoidable, and the risk may be multiple due to the weakness of the affected location. Knowing that disasters may occur in the future, there is a need to assess the readiness of the reconstructed assets. The main purpose of this study is to carry out vulnerability assessment considering physical and socio-economic aspects, with more specific in critical infrastructure and services, focusing on 2 selected coastal communities in Southern Thailand. Mixed quantitative and qualitative method is used in this study. Simple assessment tools following multi-criteria method were used together with different data collection methods to support for finding the vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies. The vulnerabilities related to housing and infrastructure services are subject to coastal hazard conditions. Major factors influencing the vulnerabilities are related to community's economic base (e.g., fishery, tourism), financing ability for improved construction, support from local governments and community-based organizations, and level of accessibility to knowledge and information required for improved disaster management. Based on the vulnerability results and required capacity, four types of strategies for adaptation and mitigation were then recommended, including: strengthening! implementation regulations, formulation of coastal zone management plan, public awareness and education, and provision of practical incentives. The research has contributed to the knowledge gap through finding out the efficient and effective tools for vulnerability assessment which may simply be used at local and community level. Further research should be considered using this method and result to the other occurrence of coastal hazards such storm surge, earthquakes, and other impacts of climate change