Cardiff University researcher seeks to strengthen disaster resilience in Malawi communities
19 March 2025
A Cardiff University researcher is making significant strides in disaster preparedness and resilience for communities in Malawi.
Dr Viviana Novelli, an Associate Professor at the School of Engineering, recently led a workshop in Malawi with local policymakers to explore innovative solutions for protecting vulnerable communities from natural disasters.
Dr Novelli’s research focuses on integrating field data and remote sensing technology to assess and address vulnerabilities in communities, particularly in informal settlements that often lack structural integrity. These settlements in Malawi face frequent exposure to multiple hazards, including devastating floods and earthquakes.
During the workshop, Dr Novelli led discussions on two key projects for which she is the Principal Investigator (PI):
1. Addressing flood-prone informal housing: This recently completed project, funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, assessed and mitigated flood risks in informal housing areas. It combined remote sensing data, drone imagery, and vulnerability analyses to support local government efforts. The workshop marked the end of the project where key recommendations were shared, including the use of flood hazard maps alongside weather and climate data, leveraging remote sensing technology to better understand risk factors, elevating homes, and strengthening construction standards and land-use regulations in flood-prone zones. The project was a collaboration with co-investigators from Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University.
2. Building resilient, sustainable healthcare facilities: This project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, focuses on ensuring that critical healthcare services remain operational before, during, and after disasters. It provides a comprehensive roadmap for stakeholders to evaluate existing healthcare infrastructure and create strategies for prioritizing disaster resilience in healthcare facilities. The Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University is a key co-investigator in this project.
Looking ahead, Dr Novelli and her team are focused on securing government support for a national survey of healthcare systems and infrastructure in marginalised communities. Using the advanced modelling tools developed through her research, this survey will identify critical gaps in infrastructure and inform strategies to enhance resilience and sustainability.
I’m really excited to see this work move to the next steps. I'll be collaborating closely with the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), policymakers, and local communities to develop strategies that improve healthcare services and infrastructure. It’s crucial that our research findings are incorporated into policies that strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience.
Dr Novelli was interviewed on YV national news in Malawi about the workshop. Tune in from 13-minutes to watch the interview.