This paper aims to study the spatio-temporal pattern and distribution of man-made 

disasters which can be prevented and will influence the city functions. The study covers the

core area and suburbs of Shanghai, accounting for about 16% of Shanghai area, which

include whole Yangpu, Zhabei, Hongkou, Putuo, Changning, Jing'an, Luwan, Xuhui, Huangpu

districts and partial area of Baoshan, Jiading, Minhang, Nanhui and Pudong districts, totally

146 towns and streets where are most populated and urbanized. The authors collect the 

data of man-made disasters of Shanghai from the government reports, newspapers and 

government bulletin. To facilitate and accelerate this study process, GIS technology is 

applied in this research. In this paper, the authors build a database of man-made disasters

based on 1987 cases data of different types of man-made disasters in Shanghai from 2000

to 2006, referring the international disaster database structure. And then they quantitatively

analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of the man-made disasters in Shanghai by

using GIS technology.

 The results show that 

(1) the number of man-made disasters have

increasing trend with urbanization acceleration in Shanghai, and the frequency in summer 

and winter, is greater than in Spring and Autumn, and the lowest value occurred at around

the Spring Festival. The frequency of different types of disasters and accidents such as

traffic, fire, building and public facilities is of difference seasonal characteristics; 

(2) man-made disasters in Shanghai show the density of the city center tends to decrease

the outer ring surrounding areas. High-incidence areas of Man-made disasters are mainly

distributed in the central city and urban-rural high-flow areas. There is a close relationship

between human activities and man-made disaster. All disasters are different types of 

spatial pattern;

(3) urban man-made disasters hazards depends largely on the location of urban 

construction, infrastructure, industrial structure, management regulations, population

density and quality of the people, and many other combination of factors.