Explain the concept of 'exposure maps' and how they differ from 'risk maps'.

• A. Exposure maps show where assets are located; risk maps combine exposure with probability and consequence to indicate expected loss.
• B. Exposure maps show sensor accuracy; risk maps show weather forecasts.
• C. Exposure maps depict historical disasters; risk maps show future population growth.
• D. Exposure maps show only regulatory boundaries; risk maps show only insurance premiums.

Answer: (A)

Exposure maps locate where assets exist within a geography and often show their value or quantity, so you can see what could be affected and where it is. Risk maps take that same spatial picture and add how likely a hazard is and how severe the impact would be, producing a map of expected loss or risk levels across the area. In other words, exposure answers what is at risk and where, while risk maps answer how big that risk is by combining the chance of a hazard with its potential consequences.

For example, in a flood scenario, an exposure map marks which homes and assets sit in flood-prone zones. A risk map would overlay the probability of flooding and the potential damage to those homes to show which neighborhoods face the highest expected losses, guiding mitigation and preparedness.

The other options don’t fit because they describe different things: sensor accuracy and weather forecasts are about data quality or predictive weather outputs, not asset locations or risk magnitudes; historical disasters map past events rather than forward-looking risk; regulatory boundaries are legal lines, and insurance premiums are pricing information rather than a risk-visualization concept.