Measuring Quality of Human Community Life by Spatial-Temporal Age Group Distributions—Case Study of Recovery Process in a Disaster-Affected Region

Abstract

This study proposes an effective method of measuring the quality of a community, calculated from spatial-temporal age group distributions. For this purpose, niche indices, which are used in ecology, are employed as measurement techniques and are interpreted in terms of safety and communication. Traditional indices are examined theoretically by using spatial statistics and are shown to be essentially identical. This paper also proposes a special niche index for disaster risk evaluation. From the fact-finding studies in Kobe City, Japan, which was severely damaged by the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, it is inferred that the niche index may possibly pertain to damage reduction. Further, community health in the recovery process in the Nagata Ward, Kobe City is evaluated by using the niche indices and related statistical tests. The results show that the quality of the community deteriorated after the disaster even in the area where the building recovery speed was relatively rapid.