Pandemic vulnerability knowledge visualisation for strategic decision-making: A COVID-19 index for government response in Australia

Purpose: First, the key vulnerability factors from the literature are identified. Second, using the vulnerability factors as indicators, a composite index is developed. Last, from the index values, a set of vulnerability knowledge maps, showing the vulnerability hotspots, are prepared. Design/methodology/approach: This study aims to develop a pandemic vulnerability knowledge visualisation index to support the strategic decision-making efforts of authorities. Findings: Ten indicators are identified as vulnerability factors that could significantly impact the virus spread risks. Verifying the identified hotspots against the recorded infected cases and deaths has evidenced the usefulness of the index. Determining and visualising the high-vulnerability locations and communities could help in informed strategic decision-making and responses of the authorities to the pandemic. Originality/value: The study demonstrates that the developed pandemic vulnerability knowledge visualisation index is particularly appropriate in the context of Australia. Nonetheless, by replicating the methodologic steps of the study, customised versions can be developed for other country contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Clean Cruise Shipping: Experience from the BSR

The study calculates the costs of the environmental impact of cruise shipping to determine how and to what extent the cruise industry has evolved towards clean shipping in the Baltic Sea Region. While environmental regulations connect directly to emissions reduction, measures to ensure a clean shipping industry are beyond regulatory measures. The sector should be able to fully operate within an environmentally, socially, and financially acceptable structure. A holistic shipping pollution and emissions index, for example, must also include financial or economic quantification of the major environmental impacts. Thus, using empirical data collated from the industry, uncontrolled observations, and experts’ interviews, we present the annual CO2 emissions and the related emissions costs of a typical 7-day cruise that operates within the Baltic Sea region (BSR) as well as a waste management report from the port of Saint Petersburg. The result is a detailed energy demand and cost inventory assessment of cruise trips and their overall impact on the clean shipping campaign of the maritime industry. The focus on a BSR cruise and a port city led to realistic and reliable results since the Baltic Sea represents a well-defined macroregion with clear ports and cruising structures suitable for cross-sectoral activities.