Advancing Multi Hazard Risk Assessment through the Hazards Impacts Matrix

The GLOMOS team is pleased to announce the publication of a new peer reviewed article in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (IJDRR) titled “A new multidimensional framework for risk assessment in multi hazard context: the Hazards Impacts Matrix”.

Led by Prof. Daniela Molinari (Politecnico di Milano) and developed in collaboration with a group of interdisciplinary experts from different Italian universities, the study was carried out within the framework of the RETURN Foundation (multi Risk sciEnce for resilienT commUnities undeR a changiNg climate). Researchers Dr. Paola Fontanella Pisa and Dr. Federica Romagnoli from the GLOMOS programme contributed to this ambitious, multidisciplinary effort.

Why a Multi Hazard Perspective Matters

Geographic areas are rarely exposed to a single hazard in isolation. Instead, floods, landslides, droughts, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and other natural hazards often coexist and interact within the same territory. As a result, traditional risk assessment approaches, typically focused on one hazard at a time, struggle to capture this complexity, limiting their usefulness for decision makers working toward sustainable and climate resilient development.

Addressing this challenge, the paper proposes a systematic approach that allows risks from multiple hazards to be analyzed, quantified, and compared within a single coherent framework.

Introducing the Hazards Impacts Matrix

At the core of the study is the Hazards Impacts Matrix, an indicator based framework designed to evaluate risk in multi hazard contexts. Developed through close collaboration among experts in engineering, environmental sciences, spatial planning, and social sciences, the matrix integrates multiple dimensions of risk linked to impacts on:

• individual well being, • the built environment, • public services, • business and economic activities, • environmental systems, • communities, and • the financial system.

A key strength of the framework lies in its use of a coherent and consistent set of indicators across different hazards, ensuring the comparability of risk estimates. This design makes it possible to explore simple hazard interrelationships, such as compound events, while also laying the groundwork for analysing more complex risk interactions and systemic effects.

Importantly, the Hazards Impacts Matrix can be applied across multiple spatial scales, enhancing its flexibility and applicability in diverse contexts.

From Concept to Practice: The Lomellina Case Study

The framework is applied to the Lomellina area in Northern Italy as a proof of concept, demonstrating its potential to support comprehensive risk assessments in real world settings. While originally developed to assist decision makers during the risk mitigation planning phase within the Italian institutional context, the authors highlight its adaptability for post event assessments and its potential extension to other national and regional contexts.

Contribution to GLOMOS Research

This publication aligns closely with GLOMOS’ commitment to advancing integrated, multi dimensional, and decision relevant approaches to disaster risk reduction, particularly in complex social ecological systems. By bridging quantitative indicators with diverse impact domains, the Hazards Impacts Matrix offers a robust tool to inform more holistic and equitable risk governance.

Read the Paper

The full article is available online through the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction:

🔗 Molinari, D. et al. (2026). A new multidimensional framework for risk assessment in multi hazard context: the Hazards Impacts Matrix. IJDRR.