Impact of Strict Building Code Enforcement on Urban Risk Mitigation
Keywords:
building codes, urban risks, seismic resilience, informal construction, social vulnerability, sustainable developmentAbstract
The article presents an analysis of the role of strict compliance with building codes as a key mechanism for reducing urban vulnerability to natural and technological hazards. The study is based on an interdisciplinary approach that integrates urban studies, engineering seismology, social geography, and risk management. Particular attention is given to the comparison of empirical data and models that reveal the impact of law enforcement practices on the scale of informal construction, the dynamics of seismic losses, vulnerability to floods, and the probability of urban fires. It is found that strict enforcement of building codes reduces the likelihood of destruction and casualties during earthquakes, limits damage from hydrological events, and strengthens trust in state institutions. Comparative analysis shows that physical resilience depends on engineering solutions, while social resilience is determined by the uniformity of enforcement and the adaptive capacity of the population. It is established that current codes are limited by the absence of multi-hazard scenarios, regional disparities in application, and the gap between formal standards and informal construction practices. Such integration minimizes the cumulative effect of risks and provides a conceptual framework for assessing the role of building codes in threat management, opening prospects for digital monitoring and the implementation of sustainable urban development models. The article will be useful for professionals in urban studies, design, risk research, emergency management, and resilience strategy development.
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