@article {bnh-1716, title = {Scientific Knowledge and Scientific Uncertainty in Bushfire and Flood Risk Mitigation: Literature Review}, year = {2015}, month = {04/2015}, abstract = {

The Scientific Diversity, Scientific Uncertainty and Risk Mitigation Policy and\ Planning (RMPP) project aims to investigate the diversity and uncertainty of\ bushfire and flood science, and its contribution to risk mitigation policy and\ planning. The project investigates how policy makers, practitioners, courts,\ inquiries and the community differentiate, understand and use scientific knowledge\ in relation to bushfire and flood risk. It uses qualitative social science methods and\ case studies to analyse how diverse types of knowledge are ordered and judged as\ salient, credible and authoritative, and the pragmatic meaning this holds for\ emergency management across the PPRR spectrum.

This research report is the second literature review of the RMPP project and was\ written before any of the case studies had been completed. It synthesises\ approximately 250 academic sources on bushfire and flood risk science, including\ research on hazard modelling, prescribed burning, hydrological engineering,\ development planning, meteorology, climatology and evacuation planning. The\ report also incorporates theoretical insights from the fields of risk studies and\ science and technology studies (STS), as well as indicative research regarding the\ public understandings of science, risk communication and deliberative planning.

This report outlines the key scientific practices (methods and knowledge) and\ scientific uncertainties in bushfire and flood risk mitigation in Australia. Scientific\ uncertainties are those {\textquoteleft}known unknowns{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}unknown unknowns{\textquoteright} that emerge\ from the development and utilisation of scientific knowledge. Risk mitigation\ involves those processes through which agencies attempt to limit the vulnerability\ of assets and values to a given hazard.

}, isbn = {978-1-74108-354-5}, author = {Timothy Neale} }