Articles | Volume 19, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-19-2677-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-19-2677-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
02 Dec 2019
Research article |
| 02 Dec 2019
| 02 Dec 2019
Difficulties in explaining complex issues with maps: evaluating seismic hazard communication – the Swiss case
Swiss Seismological Service, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
Michael Stauffacher
USYS TdLab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
Stefan Wiemer
Swiss Seismological Service, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
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Cited
28 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Actionable and understandable? Evidence-based recommendations for the design of (multi-)hazard warning messages I. Dallo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102917
- Long-term economic impact of disasters: Evidence from multiple earthquakes in China L. Huang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106446
- The same but different: A cross‐country comparison of national earthquake policies and societal perspectives of seismic risk in Israel and Switzerland C. Rapaport et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/rhc3.12316
- Earthquake early warning in countries where damaging earthquakes only occur every 50 to 150 years – The societal perspective I. Dallo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103441
- Designing understandable, action-oriented, and well-perceived earthquake risk maps—The Swiss case study I. Dallo et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2023.1306104
- Us Pacific Coast Communities’ Past Preparedness and Preparedness Intentions for Cascadia Subduction Zone Tsunamis M. Lindell et al. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4145338
- The communication strategy for the release of the first European Seismic Risk Model and the updated European Seismic Hazard Model I. Dallo et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-291-2024
- Statistical evaluation of earthquake forecast efficiency using earthquake-catalog and fault slip rate in the Sichuan-Yunnan region, China B. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1091408
- Using Geovisualizations to Educate the Public About Environmental Health Hazards: What Works and Why C. Slavik et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-024-00461-8
- (Un-)desired tailored warnings – an assessment of the preference for tailored heat warnings of the Swiss public L. Kuratle et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105205
- Meet the people where they are: Assessing user needs for aftershock forecast products in El Salvador, Mexico and the United States M. Schneider et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105450
- Bridging warning and adaptation addressing risk communication strategies for short-term natural hazard warnings and long-term risk adaptation – A scoping review J. Graf et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2026.100515
- Hazard zonation mapping of earthquake-induced secondary effects using spatial multi-criteria analysis M. Karpouza et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-021-04852-0
- Data-driven recommendations for enhancing real-time natural hazard warnings K. Saunders et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101274
- Prospective evaluation of multiplicative hybrid earthquake forecasting models in California J. Bayona et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggac018
- The Influence of Between- and Within-Map Lightness Variation on Decision Making With Hazard Maps C. Zimnicki & L. Matzen https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2026.3713087
- The Earthquake Risk Model of Switzerland, ERM-CH23 A. Papadopoulos et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3561-2024
- The Evolving Nature of Newsprint Hurricane Cartography A. Clark https://doi.org/10.3138/cart-2025-0020
- Criteria-based visualization design for hazard maps M. Schneider et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2505-2023
- Assessing Perceptions and Interpretations of Tsunami Maps: Insights from the Public and Risk Experts T. Vera San Martín et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16233423
- A user-centered mapping design for geomorphological hazard thematic map S. Shen et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2023.2251510
- Illustrating the impact of earthquakes: Evidence-based and user-centered recommendations on how to design earthquake scenarios and rapid impact assessments M. Marti et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103674
- What defines the success of maps and additional information on a multi-hazard platform? I. Dallo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101761
- Analysing and communicating vulnerability to crime at micro-places: An empirical application of how to improve the visual representation of a spatial crime risk assessment in Iztapalapa, Mexico City M. Dugato https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paac076
- Preventing and debunking earthquake misinformation: Insights into EMSC's practices L. Fallou et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2022.993510
- US Pacific coast communities’ past preparedness and preparedness intentions for Cascadia subduction zone tsunamis M. Lindell et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103466
- Changing your perspective: the impact of different visualisation methods on seismic hazard maps Y. Yin et al. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2023-0123
- Anecdotal Evidence Is An Insufficient Basis for Designing Earthquake Preparedness Campaigns M. Marti et al. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220200010
28 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Actionable and understandable? Evidence-based recommendations for the design of (multi-)hazard warning messages I. Dallo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102917
- Long-term economic impact of disasters: Evidence from multiple earthquakes in China L. Huang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106446
- The same but different: A cross‐country comparison of national earthquake policies and societal perspectives of seismic risk in Israel and Switzerland C. Rapaport et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/rhc3.12316
- Earthquake early warning in countries where damaging earthquakes only occur every 50 to 150 years – The societal perspective I. Dallo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103441
- Designing understandable, action-oriented, and well-perceived earthquake risk maps—The Swiss case study I. Dallo et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2023.1306104
- Us Pacific Coast Communities’ Past Preparedness and Preparedness Intentions for Cascadia Subduction Zone Tsunamis M. Lindell et al. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4145338
- The communication strategy for the release of the first European Seismic Risk Model and the updated European Seismic Hazard Model I. Dallo et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-291-2024
- Statistical evaluation of earthquake forecast efficiency using earthquake-catalog and fault slip rate in the Sichuan-Yunnan region, China B. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1091408
- Using Geovisualizations to Educate the Public About Environmental Health Hazards: What Works and Why C. Slavik et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-024-00461-8
- (Un-)desired tailored warnings – an assessment of the preference for tailored heat warnings of the Swiss public L. Kuratle et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105205
- Meet the people where they are: Assessing user needs for aftershock forecast products in El Salvador, Mexico and the United States M. Schneider et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105450
- Bridging warning and adaptation addressing risk communication strategies for short-term natural hazard warnings and long-term risk adaptation – A scoping review J. Graf et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2026.100515
- Hazard zonation mapping of earthquake-induced secondary effects using spatial multi-criteria analysis M. Karpouza et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-021-04852-0
- Data-driven recommendations for enhancing real-time natural hazard warnings K. Saunders et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101274
- Prospective evaluation of multiplicative hybrid earthquake forecasting models in California J. Bayona et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggac018
- The Influence of Between- and Within-Map Lightness Variation on Decision Making With Hazard Maps C. Zimnicki & L. Matzen https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2026.3713087
- The Earthquake Risk Model of Switzerland, ERM-CH23 A. Papadopoulos et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3561-2024
- The Evolving Nature of Newsprint Hurricane Cartography A. Clark https://doi.org/10.3138/cart-2025-0020
- Criteria-based visualization design for hazard maps M. Schneider et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2505-2023
- Assessing Perceptions and Interpretations of Tsunami Maps: Insights from the Public and Risk Experts T. Vera San Martín et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16233423
- A user-centered mapping design for geomorphological hazard thematic map S. Shen et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2023.2251510
- Illustrating the impact of earthquakes: Evidence-based and user-centered recommendations on how to design earthquake scenarios and rapid impact assessments M. Marti et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103674
- What defines the success of maps and additional information on a multi-hazard platform? I. Dallo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101761
- Analysing and communicating vulnerability to crime at micro-places: An empirical application of how to improve the visual representation of a spatial crime risk assessment in Iztapalapa, Mexico City M. Dugato https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paac076
- Preventing and debunking earthquake misinformation: Insights into EMSC's practices L. Fallou et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2022.993510
- US Pacific coast communities’ past preparedness and preparedness intentions for Cascadia subduction zone tsunamis M. Lindell et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103466
- Changing your perspective: the impact of different visualisation methods on seismic hazard maps Y. Yin et al. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2023-0123
- Anecdotal Evidence Is An Insufficient Basis for Designing Earthquake Preparedness Campaigns M. Marti et al. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220200010
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 13 Sep 2026
Short summary
Maps are an established way to illustrate natural hazards and regularly used to communicate with non-experts. However, there is evidence that they are frequently misconceived. Using a real case, our study shows that applying or disregarding best practices in visualization, editing, and presentation significantly impacts the comprehensibility of seismic hazard information. We suggest scrutinizing current natural-hazard communication strategies and empirically testing new products.
Maps are an established way to illustrate natural hazards and regularly used to communicate with...
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