Dr. Bryce Hannibal and Dr. Sierra Woodruff, ISTPP Research Fellows, and coauthor Dr. Matthew Malecha, have published their research, “The Overlap of Collaboration and Planning Networks: A Post-Harvey Study,” in the Journal of Planning Education and Research. Using original survey data collected from Houston organizations involved in planning and mitigation, the research team examines the extent to which organizations involved in planning are also involved in hazard mitigation. This research is part of two projects related to Hurricane Harvey funded by the National Science Foundation.
The study team investigates the multiple organizational connections using Social Network Analysis (SNA). SNA identifies the total number of ties each organization has to the others and how directly and densely organizations are bound by these connections. Two networks are of focus: organizations involved in the planning process of Houston’s regional plans and organizations involved in hazard mitigation in the Houston area. The study identifies and elaborates on the characteristics of organizations’ involvement in both mitigation and planning networks. They find that the number of organizations involved in both planning and mitigation is relatively low. The two relatively independent networks may create challenges in planning for and mitigating hazards and disasters in a holistic manner. Conversely, increasing the integration of these two networks could improve planning and mitigation preparations in Houston and potentially reduce the impacts caused by future floods.
Hannibal, Bryce, Sierra Woodruff, and Matthew Malecha. 2021. The Overlap of Collaboration and Planning Networks: A Post-Harvey Study. Journal of Planning Education and Research. (Early view available online). DOI: 10.1177%2F0739456X21995899
