1 2322-5955 Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization 732 General Flood Risk Zoning Using the Flood Hazard Index: Case Study of Lowmar Sub-watershed of Seymareh, Ilam Province, Iran Najafi Esmaeil b Gholami Farzaneh c Gholami Azam d b Department of Geomorphology, School of Earth Sciences, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran. c Department of Geomorphology, Faculty of Geography and Planning, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran. d Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.  1 12 2025 15 3 266 291 09 12 2024 15 02 2025 Background and Objective Floods, as one of the most devastating natural disasters, can affect human life, infrastructure, environment, and economies. The Lowmar sub-watershed of Seymareh, located in Ilam Province, southwestern Iran, is one of the areas vulnerable to floods due to its specific geographical location and climatic conditions. This study aims to identify flood-prone areas within this sub-watershed and propose strategies to reduce flood-related risks. Method This is a descriptive-analytical study. Flood-prone areas in the Lowmar sub-watershed were assessed using the flood hazard index (FHI), considering eight hydro-geomorphological and climatic parameters: Slope, drainage network density, distance from rivers, land use, lithology, elevation, rainfall, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) model was used to analyze the data and determine the weight of each parameter. The required data were prepared from satellite images, digital elevation models, and meteorological data, and processed in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. After integrating the maps of various parameters, a final flood zoning map was produced, categorizing the area into five risk severity levels: Very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. Results The most critical factors influencing flood risk in the study area were slope, rainfall, vegetation cover, and land use type. Over 60% of the Sub-Watershed area falls within a flood risk range from moderate to very high, especially in the central and western areas. Additionally, 40.5% of the villages in this area, as well as three towns—Lowmar, Sarab-Kalan, and Siah-Siah—were located in regions with high and very high flood risk. Roads in the western part of the Sub-Watershed were also exposed to flood hazards, which require preventive and managerial actions. Conclusion The findings highlight the importance of urban planning, preventive measures, and flood risk management in the Lowmar sub-watershed. The preventive measures include strengthening infrastructure, improving land-use planning, increasing vegetation cover, and educating local communities for flood preparedness.
775 Special Barriers to Disaster Management Exercises in Iran Using Interpretive Structural Modeling, and the Solutions for Improving Their Quality: Case Study of 22 Districts in Tehran hasanzadeh samira e Salimi Tari Azizollah f Samadi Foroushani Marzieh g Moradi Rouzbahani Samim h Miresmaeeli Seyedeh Samaneh i e Department of Disaster Management, Faculty of Passive Defense Engineering, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. f Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization, Tehran, Iran. g Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization, Tehran, Iran. h Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization, Tehran, Iran. i Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, Faculty of Medical Management and Informatics, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 1 12 2025 15 3 292 319 07 05 2025 08 07 2025 Background and Objective Various disaster  management exercises are planned and implemented annually in Tehran, Iran, for increasing the knowledge and practice of staff in responding to emergencies. This study aimed to identify the barriers to disaster management exercises in Iran based on the exercises conducted in 22 districts of Tehran for continuous improvement planning. Method This is a mixed-method study, comprising three approaches: Qualitative analysis, fuzzy Delphi approach, and interpretive structural modeling (ISM). The participants included experts, managers, and planners from the Tehran Disaster Prevention and Management Organization, who were selected purposefully based on their expertise and membership in the disaster exercise planning and execution team. First, 10 themes and 27 sub-themes were extracted based on qualitative analysis of disaster management exercise reports of 22 districts of Tehran. After two rounds of Fuzzy Delphi technique, 14 key barriers were agreed upon by the experts. Then, based on the ISM method, the structural self-interaction matrix (SSIM) and the initial and final reachability matrices were formed, barriers were partitioned into different levels, and finally, the ISM diagram was drawn. Results Level 4 barriers included: Insufficient knowledge and skills of exercise planners and actors, failure to identify vulnerable areas for the exercise, failure to identify priority risks, and failure to assess disaster based on priority risks. Level 3 barriers included: Insufficient monitoring of environmental conditions to ensure safety and security of the exercise area, insufficient participation of some key actors (government, private sector, institutions, public volunteers, citizens), inadequate financial resources, support services, and equipment for the exercise; failure to implement incident command system (ICS) and incident management system (IMS), and Insufficient information to actors and limited area for exercises. Level 2 barriers included: Inadequate communications (wireless or video) between operational actors and disaster management exercise headquarters, poor quality of immediate debriefing group sessions after exercise, and weakness in the evaluation process of exercises. Level 1 barriers included: Weakness in managing lessons learned from exercises, and improper implementation of exercise guidelines. Conclusion The identified barriers and provided solutions can improve policymakers’ and planners’ understanding of disaster management exercises and help prioritize areas for improvement and to achieve the goals of disaster management preparedness. 807 Special Design and Validation of an HSE Evaluation Checklist for Urban Mass Gatherings: A Case Study in Tehran, Iran Mousavi Seyed Sajad j Ebrahimian Mobin k Najafi Mohammad l Delfan Mohammad m Fahmi Hossein n Tazikeh Masoumeh o Mirzahashemi Nafiseh p j Department of Industrial Engineering, School of Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy. k Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. l Department of Industrial Safety Engineering, Caspian Institute of Higher Education, Qazvin, Iran. m Tabarestan Institute of Higher Education, Chaloos, Iran. n Department of Civil Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. o University of Applied Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran. p Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 1 12 2025 15 3 320 343 25 08 2025 26 10 2025 Background and Objective Considering the scale of mass gatherings in urban areas, systematic attention to health, safety, and environment (HSE) factors for these events has become important in urban governance. This study aimed to design and validate a tool for HSE evaluation in urban mass gatherings, tailored to the conditions of Tehran City, Iran. Method Using a mixed-method approach (qualitative–quantitative), this research identified, categorized, and validated key indicators for assessing HSE in urban mass gatherings. Tool development was done by risk assessment, review of past events, opinions of experts, and field visits. The initial draft was tested in a pilot study for three selected mass gathering events in Tehran, Iran, and its psychometric properties (content validity, construct validity, and internal consistency) were evaluated.  Results The final version of the checklist included 14 operational indicators: 6 safety-related, 4 health-related, and 4 environmental indicators. It was found that 92% of the items had acceptable CVR (>0.62). The CVI for all items ranged from 0.80 to 1. The CVI average for the entire checklist was calculated to be 0.92, indicating an excellent content validity. Cronbach’s α coefficient was calculated to be 0.86 for the entire checklist, indicating a favorable internal consistency. Regarding its subscales, Cronbach’s α value was 0.83 for safety, 0.80 for health, and 0.78 for environment.  Conclusion The developed checklist is a valid and reliable tool for assessing HSE in urban mass gatherings. By focusing on neglected components and multidimensional risks, this checklist enables systematic analysis and targeted intervention from initial planning to implementation and collection. It can be used by urban management authorities, event organizers, and HSE researchers. 809 Special Identifying Subsurface Cavities and Fractures in Roads Using the Ground Penetrating Radar With Two 170-and 600-MHz Central Antennas: A Case Study in Iran Esmaeili Shamseddin Bolbolvand Mehdi Ahmadzadeh Irandoust Mohsen Talebi Mohammad Department of Sciences, Faculty of Physics, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization (TDMMO), Tehran, Iran. Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China. Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization (TDMMO), Tehran, Iran. 1 12 2025 15 3 344 363 10 08 2025 18 09 2025 Background and Objective This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for identifying subsurface cavities and fractures in roads. Method Data were collected using a GPR system (model 1760, ImpulseRadar Co., Sweden), which had two central antennas with frequencies of 170 and 600 MHz. Data acquisition was carried out in three areas: A road under construction in the Gachsaran Formation, a section of an asphalt-paved street in Ilam province, and an area including an old, small, buried tunnel in Kermanshah City. The geology of these areas is different and ranges from the Gachsaran Formation to Holocene sediments. The distance determined for the data acquisition step was 4 centimeters. The wave penetration depth in both antennas varied by geology type in these areas. The data after different processing steps were examined using wave-spectrum analysis, characteristics, and evidence of anomalies to distinguish cavities and fractures. Results After performing all the processing steps, the results confirmed the presence of cavities and fractures. Also, the high agreement in the overlapping areas between the two antennas was clearly visible. Conclusion Since choosing the appropriate antenna frequency for GPR plays a key role in the ability to properly detect the electrical properties of materials, the results show the proper efficiency of the GPR method with the aforementioned antennas in identifying subsurface cavities and fractures in roads. 745 Special Evaluation of Disaster Risk Management Standards in Tehran Province Hospitals Abbasabadi-Arab Masoumeh Mosadeghrad Ali Mohammad Meshkini Ali Goudarzi Leila Prehospital Emergency Research Center, National Emergency Medical Organization, Tehran, Iran. Department of Health Management, Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Department of Supervision and Accreditation of the Deputy of Treatment, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran. Department of Supervision and Accreditation of the Deputy of Treatment, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran. 1 12 2025 15 3 364 383 17 01 2025 03 08 2025 Background and Objective Tehran Province is exposed to all kinds of natural and man-made hazards due to its geographical and political location, population coverage and the presence of vital centers and organisations in the country. The preparation and effective response of hospitals in disasters play an important role in maintaining and improving the health of society. This research was conducted to investigate the level of preparedness of hospitals in Tehran province in disasters, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of hospitals and provide practical solutions Method An analytical-descriptive study was conducted in 2022 for hospitals in Tehran Province. The evaluation tool of the disaster risk management hospital accreditation standards was used. Hospitals were evaluated by the national accreditation surveys of the Ministry of Health using the checklist related to this axis in the fifth round of accreditation in 2021-2022 and registered in the country's accreditation system. SPSS software, version 21 and analytical tests were used for data analysis. Results 165 hospitals in Tehran province were evaluated. The average score of hospitals in Tehran Province in the axis of disaster risk management was 69.35%. The highest score was in the first standard (assessment of hospital safety index) with an average of 77.08, and the lowest score was related to the fifth Performance analysis after disasters. With an average of 58.50. There was a significant relationship between ownership of hospitals and their level of disaster preparation. Military, social security, and new university hospitals had a higher average score. Private hospitals scored lower than other hospitals in standards (preparedness, response and recovery) Conclusion The results of this study showed that the level of preparedness of hospitals in Tehran Province in terms of disaster and accident risk management is moderate. To improve the preparedness of Tehran hospitals in emergencies and accidents, we need a multifaceted approach at management levels. Hospital managers should include strengthening the structural and non-structural safety of hospitals, scientifically formulating preparedness, response, and recovery programs, increasing the knowledge and skills of managers and employees in implementing response programs and national guidelines in their strategic plans. Policymakers and health system managers should also include reviewing policies, laws, and guidelines in locating and building hospitals, fairness in distributing hospital beds, strengthening hospital infrastructure and equipment, participation and utilization of private hospital capacity in times of crisis, strengthening communication and information systems, and programs to improve the knowledge and skills of managers and employees. 741 Special Impact of Digital Elevation Model Resolution on Flood Hazard Simulation: A Case Study of the River Downstream of Khorramabad City, Iran Vayskarami Iraj Haghizadeh Ali Fathabadi Aboalhasan Department of Watershed Management Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran. Department of Watershed Management Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran. Department of Watershed Management Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran. 1 12 2025 15 3 384 413 10 01 2025 31 05 2025 Background and Objective Despite significant advancements in the development of hydraulic models, the accuracy of flood predictions is influenced by various factors, including topography, the precision of digital elevation models (DEMs), and roughness coefficients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of DEM resolution on the efficiency of the 2D HEC-RAS model in simulating flood hazard zones. Method Three DEM layers with resolutions of 0.5, 2, and 3 meters were used to assess the efficiency of the 2D HEC-RAS model. Water flow simulations were conducted in a 3-kilometer-long section of the river downstream of Khorramabad City, Lorestan Province, Iran. Measured flow rates in April and November 2024 (34 and 15 m3/s, respectively) and the flow rate during a flood event in April 2019 (1000 m3/s) were considered. The flow variables (including depth, velocity, and spread width) measured based on the DEM layers were compared with the values measured at four cross-sections within the study area for the specified flow rates. The evaluation metrics were the root mean square error (R.M.S.E) and mean absolute percentage error (M.A.P.E). Results Using the DEM with a resolution of 0.5 meters yielded simulation results for flow and flood hazard maps that were much closer to the real data compared to those obtained from DEMs with lower resolutions of 2 and 5 meters. The average prediction errors for flow depth and velocity using the 0.5-m resolution DEM were 10% and 12% lower, respectively, than those of the 2-m and 5-m resolution DEMs. Additionally, analyses of hydraulic parameters, including flow depth, velocity, and spread width, revealed a significant correlation between DEM resolution and flood prediction accuracy. Conclusion The resolution of DEMs plays a crucial role in enhancing the performance of the 2D HEC-RAS model in simulating flood hazard zones. With higher DEM resolution, better flood prediction results can be obtained. Therefore, it should be considered as an effective strategy in flood risk management and reducing flood-related damages. The findings underscore the importance of hydraulic model precision and the necessity of utilizing high-resolution models in studies related to flood risk management and mitigation. 742 Special Developing Strategies to Strengthen the Community-based Approach to Risk Management; Case Study: Ardabil City Vaezi Homa Ghaffari Gilandeh Ata Mohammadi Alireza Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. 1 12 2025 15 3 414 461 12 01 2025 12 04 2025 Background and Objective Due to the importance of hazardology strategy in the formulation of national and regional laws and guidelines, contemporary cognitive scientists specializing in hazards clarify the complexities of scientific research in this field by developing and explaining the human and natural nature of hazards through direct examination of hazardous events and scientific action. Traditional methods in disaster management are no longer sufficient for the country’s needs. It is essential to address risk reduction and disaster management strategically and fundamentally, with the participation and responsibility of all relevant sectors and organizations. This must be based on a thorough evaluation and understanding of the roots and negative impacts of all hazards and incidents, considering social factors such as meaningful and impactful public participation as a national prioritized using the quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) method. Method Data collection methods include library and field research. The statistical population comprises 35 individuals, including disaster management experts, as well as professors and researchers who are working on this topic. They were selected using judgmental sampling. To propose strategies, internal and external factors were identified and evaluated. To analyze the data, the SWOT method and the QSPM method was used. Results Based on the results of the internal factors evaluation matrix, the weaknesses in the system outweigh its strengths. Similarly, based on the results of the external factors evaluation matrix, the threats to the system are greater than its opportunities. Consequently, the community-based disaster management system of Ardabil City is in a defensive position. Conclusion In order to strengthen the community-based approach, it is necessary to plan and take action to reduce weaknesses and avoid threats. Based on the results obtained from the QSPM method, 13 strategies were ultimately obtained.