Different Approaches to Disaster Resilience of Urban Settlements of Developing and Developed Countries: A Comparative Case Study on Yalova vs Cologne

Abstract

This paper presents a disaster resilience model for urban settlements through a comparative analysis of Yalova (Turkey) and Cologne (Germany). By examining disaster characteristics across developing and developed contexts, it identifies both common features and local specificities relevant to disaster mitigation. These form the basis for a model aimed at strengthening resilience, offering guidelines for standards, criteria, and building codes for disaster-prone settlements. The proposed framework distinguishes between risk factors and elements of resilience, providing a checklist of possible actions rather than a comprehensive manual, and outlining strategies on short-, medium-, and long-term scales. While the model focuses primarily on physical resilience, it acknowledges the interplay with social, political, and administrative structures. Applied to Yalova and Cologne, the model illustrates differing priorities in developing and developed countries: Turkey, despite being an emerging economy, reflects challenges typical of developing contexts with rapid population growth, whereas Germany exemplifies developed contexts with demographic decline.