Spatial dimension of urban hazardscape perception: The case of Mexicali, Mexico

As a first step to generate information for deeper studies and as a way of connecting two aspects of hazard reality that are frequently managed separately, this article addresses the spatial relationship of exposure to and perception of urban hazardscape. Through a quantitative approach that involved a survey in the Mexican city of Mexicali, Baja California, and using indicators of spatial association (Moran's I and local Moran's I), three ways of perception are identified - visibility, invisibility and amplification of the presence of hazards in the city - among its inhabitants. Additionally, results also involve identification of hazardscape perception shadow and the hazardscape non-perception shadow as expressions of the spatiality of perception, which in this case was biased from the hazardscape, because the geographical area involved in perception of hazards is different from their incidence zone. Findings are expected to enhance knowledge of divergences between hazardscape and hazardscape perception, in order to generate information for improving urban policing capabilities through a risk communication strategy spatially differentiated.