An Integrated Multidimensional Risk Framework for Volcanic Hazard Zones: Insights from Mt. Vesuvius, Italy

Mt. Vesuvius, in Campania Region (Southern Italy), is considered one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes due to its probability of future explosive eruptions in a densely populated area. When large populations or significant assets are exposed to volcanic hazards and exhibit high vulnerability, the potential for disaster increases. Consequently, combining volcanic hazard with demographic, social and building characteristics is essential to manage disasters. The present research applies an integrated multidimensional and multisource framework for risk analysis, based on diverse geospatial datasets, by exploring the relationship between long-term volcanic hazard (pyroclastic density currents), human population features (population exposure and social vulnerability) and building characteristics (building exposure and physical vulnerability). The challenge of this approach is to standardize the metrics belonging to physical hazard with those of potential vulnerability and exposure (which derived from different measures), to investigate the volcanic risk spatial distribution. Using cartographic and statistical methods at the Enumeration Area level, the framework identifies and prioritizes zones requiring focused mitigation strategies. The resulting risk map shows that the highest-risk areas (levels 4 and 5) are primarily located in the northwestern sector of Mount Vesuvius—particularly within Sant’Anastasia, Volla, Cercola, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Ercolano, Portici, and parts of Naples.