Long-term disaster risk implications of post-tsunami housing reconstruction: An integrated socio-technical assessment of community perception, structural performance, and hazard exposure in Aceh, Indonesia

This study presents an integrated socio-technical evaluation of post-tsunami housing reconstruction implemented after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia, nearly two decades after completion. The assessment covers four districts—Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar, Aceh Jaya, and Aceh Barat—and examines three interconnected dimensions: community perceptions of reconstructed housing, projected future tsunami exposure, and long-term structural performance of aid housing. A mixed-methods approach was applied, combining surveys of 108 housing occupants, field-based visual structural assessments, and tsunami inundation modeling under a hypothetical Mw 9.2 megathrust earthquake scenario based on the updated Indonesian seismic source framework. Results indicate that reconstructed settlements have generally evolved into stable residential environments supporting long-term socio-economic recovery. However, many housing clusters remain located within areas of moderate to high projected tsunami inundation, indicating persistent residual risk. Community acceptance appeared to be influenced by place attachment, livelihood dependence, and neighborhood cohesion, while concerns regarding construction quality and limited community participation were also identified. Visual assessments further revealed recurring deterioration affecting reinforced concrete elements, roofing systems, and building envelopes, potentially associated with prolonged environmental exposure and limited maintenance. Overall, the findings suggest that long-term reconstruction outcomes are shaped by interactions among social acceptance, hazard exposure, reconstruction quality, and maintenance capacity. The study highlights the importance of integrating risk-sensitive spatial planning, durable engineering standards, participatory reconstruction processes, and post-occupancy maintenance support to improve the sustainability and resilience of post-disaster housing reconstruction. Highlights • Reconstructed settlements remain occupied but exposed to persistent tsunami risk. • Livelihood dependence and place attachment outweigh hazard considerations in location choice. • Long-term deterioration reflects coastal exposure, construction quality, and maintenance gaps. • Integrated socio-technical analysis reveals dynamic recovery processes over time. • Risk-informed planning and lifecycle-based reconstruction are critical for resilience.