Post-disaster Analysis Using GIS and a Composite Index to Assess the Vulnerability of Human Settlements: Earthquake of Al Haouz, Morocco

Morocco was struck by a 6.8 Richter scale earthquake on September 8, 2023, with its epicenter in the High Atlas mountain region. In addition to its steep topography and landlocked condition, the region’s socioeconomic structure is insecure, and the occurrence of a shock raises the question of what type of vulnerability will be challenged. In this regard, this paper aims to highlight two main outcomes: (1) the impact of the earthquake on the damaged villages and (2) the population’s vulnerability. For this purpose, we used Maxar satellite imagery to provide before-and-after rendering, and a multi-criteria index using social, demographic and infrastructure data. Ultimately, we implemented a composite vulnerability index map over the earthquake intensity distribution in order to guide post-disaster interventions based on a multi-scale assessments. This connection is significant because it serves as the foundation for better planning the reorganization of disaster-affected areas as a component of risk management and territorial resilience.