An algorithm for validation of the efficiency of disaster and safety management budget investment in South Korea

Abstract Disaster and safety management budgets should be managed efficiently through suitability verification. However, no method has been proposed for efficiency verification in the existing research due to limited budget data and absence of a verification decision method. In this study, efficiency was verified by matrix analysis to determine if the disaster and safety management budgets of 16 local governments in South Korea were invested efficiently. Algorithms using the budget data were developed, and case studies conducted on regional budget and damage status data from 16 regions over the past 10 years. The matrix analysis applied the trend of the damage amount and disaster management budget, and results were divided into low- and high-risk groups according to budget and damage status. Results showed that areas in high-risk groups comprise a smaller proportion of the budget, or that the budget was not allocated efficiently. The scale and direction of budgets have been readjusted by applying the algorithms proposed in this study to move the areas from high-risk to low-risk groups. As a result of the readjustment, a risk-reducing effect was identified. Through this study, the efficiency of regions’ disaster management budgets can be improved, contributing to damage reduction. It can contribute to the efficient operation of the budget and the reduction of the damage by identifying areas in which the damage occurs and ensuring that the budget is properly invested in those areas.