Purpose The Forensic Investigations of Disasters (FORIN) guide provides important approaches for research and extension purposes in order to understand and reduce disaster risks. However, FORIN lacks participatory methods to put people at the center of collective disaster risk analysis. This research developed a participatory methodology for FORIN (Participatory forensic investigations of disasters (PARFORIN)). The FORIN’s retrospective longitudinal analysis (FORIN-RLA) was combined with mixed research methods to analyze four main aspects of FORIN: (1) the triggering event(s), (2) population growth, (3) urban and rural land use patterns and (4) institutional and governance elements. Design/methodology/approach First, the research team, in partnership with a local university, created a disaster inventory database for the city of Poços de Caldas, Brazil, to characterize triggering events and support the RLA. After analyzing past triggering events and disasters in terms of both time and space and integrating them with urban and rural land-use changes and population growth, the research team selected a neighborhood for field research using surveys and participatory mapping. The field research and extension activity, based on the Freirean approach, engaged 37 participants, including youth and adult education students and the local community. Findings Community participation has not only heightened awareness of local knowledge but also revealed perceptions of risks they face, moving beyond a static understanding of the physical environment. We uncovered practical implications, including the co-occurrence of hazardous and triggering events, the significance of local experiences to comprehend institutional and governance elements, and FORIN’s potential for capacity-building, yielding valuable insights for disaster risk reduction (DRR). Although participants identified multi-hazards, especially those associated with dam mining and flooding, some risk drivers (such as deforestation), vulnerabilities (drug trafficking, for instance) and capacity aspects, it was not possible to include all elements of disaster risk on the map as “final product”. Originality/value This research aligns with international agendas that highlight the role of people-centered approaches and social participation in DRR. By developing the PARFORIN, we highlight the strategic role of combining FORIN with mixed-methods research and social cartography in promoting collaboration between the community and institutions. PARFORIN demonstrates the added value and contributions that emerge when local partners are involved in collective disaster risk analysis.
Ferreira et al. (Sat,) studied this question.