Define exposure and provide a method to quantify it spatially.

• A. Exposure is the presence of people, property, or assets in potential harm.
• B. Exposure is the presence of people, property, or assets in potential harm; quantified by counting assets or asset value within hazard footprints using GIS overlays and asset databases.
• C. Exposure is the maximum rainfall during a storm.
• D. Exposure is the average temperature.

Answer: (B)

Exposure is the presence of people, property, or assets in potential harm. To quantify it spatially, use GIS overlays: layer the hazard footprint (the area at risk) on top of asset data (locations and values of buildings, infrastructure, and other valuables). By counting assets within the hazard area or summing their values, you obtain a spatial exposure measure—often expressed as asset count or total asset value within the at-risk zone. This spatial approach lets you compare exposure across areas and integrate it with hazard and vulnerability for risk assessment. The other options describe climate variables (rainfall, temperature) rather than the presence and value of assets in harm, so they don’t define exposure or its spatial quantification.