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
Viewed
Total article views: 3,097 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 04 Jul 2019)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,081 | 934 | 82 | 3,097 | 100 | 94 |
- HTML: 2,081
- PDF: 934
- XML: 82
- Total: 3,097
- BibTeX: 100
- EndNote: 94
Total article views: 2,341 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 02 Dec 2019)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,717 | 549 | 75 | 2,341 | 88 | 85 |
- HTML: 1,717
- PDF: 549
- XML: 75
- Total: 2,341
- BibTeX: 88
- EndNote: 85
Total article views: 756 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 04 Jul 2019)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 364 | 385 | 7 | 756 | 12 | 9 |
- HTML: 364
- PDF: 385
- XML: 7
- Total: 756
- BibTeX: 12
- EndNote: 9
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 3,097 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 2,692 with geography defined
and 405 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 2,341 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 2,068 with geography defined
and 273 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 756 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 624 with geography defined
and 132 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
25 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Actionable and understandable? Evidence-based recommendations for the design of (multi-)hazard warning messages I. Dallo et al. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102917
- Long-term economic impact of disasters: Evidence from multiple earthquakes in China L. Huang et al. 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. 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. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103441
- Designing understandable, action-oriented, and well-perceived earthquake risk maps—The Swiss case study I. Dallo et al. 10.3389/fcomm.2023.1306104
- Us Pacific Coast Communities’ Past Preparedness and Preparedness Intentions for Cascadia Subduction Zone Tsunamis M. Lindell et al. 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. 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. 10.3389/feart.2023.1091408
- Using Geovisualizations to Educate the Public About Environmental Health Hazards: What Works and Why C. Slavik et al. 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. 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. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105450
- Hazard zonation mapping of earthquake-induced secondary effects using spatial multi-criteria analysis M. Karpouza et al. 10.1007/s11069-021-04852-0
- Data-driven recommendations for enhancing real-time natural hazard warnings K. Saunders et al. 10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101274
- Prospective evaluation of multiplicative hybrid earthquake forecasting models in California J. Bayona et al. 10.1093/gji/ggac018
- The Earthquake Risk Model of Switzerland, ERM-CH23 A. Papadopoulos et al. 10.5194/nhess-24-3561-2024
- Criteria-based visualization design for hazard maps M. Schneider et al. 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. 10.3390/w16233423
- A user-centered mapping design for geomorphological hazard thematic map S. Shen et al. 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. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103674
- What defines the success of maps and additional information on a multi-hazard platform? I. Dallo et al. 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 10.1093/police/paac076
- Preventing and debunking earthquake misinformation: Insights into EMSC's practices L. Fallou et al. 10.3389/fcomm.2022.993510
- US Pacific coast communities’ past preparedness and preparedness intentions for Cascadia subduction zone tsunamis M. Lindell et al. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103466
- Changing your perspective: the impact of different visualisation methods on seismic hazard maps Y. Yin et al. 10.1139/cjes-2023-0123
- Anecdotal Evidence Is An Insufficient Basis for Designing Earthquake Preparedness Campaigns M. Marti et al. 10.1785/0220200010
25 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Actionable and understandable? Evidence-based recommendations for the design of (multi-)hazard warning messages I. Dallo et al. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102917
- Long-term economic impact of disasters: Evidence from multiple earthquakes in China L. Huang et al. 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. 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. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103441
- Designing understandable, action-oriented, and well-perceived earthquake risk maps—The Swiss case study I. Dallo et al. 10.3389/fcomm.2023.1306104
- Us Pacific Coast Communities’ Past Preparedness and Preparedness Intentions for Cascadia Subduction Zone Tsunamis M. Lindell et al. 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. 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. 10.3389/feart.2023.1091408
- Using Geovisualizations to Educate the Public About Environmental Health Hazards: What Works and Why C. Slavik et al. 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. 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. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105450
- Hazard zonation mapping of earthquake-induced secondary effects using spatial multi-criteria analysis M. Karpouza et al. 10.1007/s11069-021-04852-0
- Data-driven recommendations for enhancing real-time natural hazard warnings K. Saunders et al. 10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101274
- Prospective evaluation of multiplicative hybrid earthquake forecasting models in California J. Bayona et al. 10.1093/gji/ggac018
- The Earthquake Risk Model of Switzerland, ERM-CH23 A. Papadopoulos et al. 10.5194/nhess-24-3561-2024
- Criteria-based visualization design for hazard maps M. Schneider et al. 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. 10.3390/w16233423
- A user-centered mapping design for geomorphological hazard thematic map S. Shen et al. 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. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103674
- What defines the success of maps and additional information on a multi-hazard platform? I. Dallo et al. 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 10.1093/police/paac076
- Preventing and debunking earthquake misinformation: Insights into EMSC's practices L. Fallou et al. 10.3389/fcomm.2022.993510
- US Pacific coast communities’ past preparedness and preparedness intentions for Cascadia subduction zone tsunamis M. Lindell et al. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103466
- Changing your perspective: the impact of different visualisation methods on seismic hazard maps Y. Yin et al. 10.1139/cjes-2023-0123
- Anecdotal Evidence Is An Insufficient Basis for Designing Earthquake Preparedness Campaigns M. Marti et al. 10.1785/0220200010
Latest update: 21 May 2025
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...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint