Land Rover has developed a Discovery vehicle for the Red Cross, equipping it with a drone that would remotely scan landscapes after earthquakes or avalanches. More about Land Rover unveils drone-equipped Discovery for search and rescue operations
This drone, designed for hard-to-reach disaster areas, will soon be getting an upgrade that allows it to be consumed along with its cargo. More about Edible Pouncer drone will deliver aid to victims of natural disasters and conflict
Architecture students from Germany's University of Kaiserslautern have built this wooden community centre for a refugee camp in Mannheim, which is fronted by a latticed screen. More about Architecture students build latticed-wood community centre in German refugee camp
These "biobots" developed by a research team at North Carolina State University could map out areas or collapsed buildings in the wake of a disaster. More about Swarms of cyborg insects could be used to map dangerous environments
Architect Renzo Piano has been called upon to lead reconstruction efforts in towns left devastated by the earthquake that struck central Italy last week, and to mitigate against future disasters. More about Renzo Piano to lead recovery plan following Italian earthquake
Opinion: designers can't save the world, but even the smallest intervention could help improve the conditions faced by the unprecedented number of refugees flooding Europe, says Richard van der Laken. More about "Designers cannot just stand by and watch as the refugee crisis unfolds"
Shigeru Ban has travelled to Ecuador to help with disaster relief, following a major earthquake that has caused the death of over 650 people. More about Shigeru Ban joins disaster relief effort following Ecuador earthquake
Minnesota-based Architects for Society has developed a prototype for a rapidly deployable dwelling that could house victims of catastrophic events (+ slideshow). More about Architects for Society designs low-cost hexagonal shelters for refugees
Five years after the devastating Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, Klein Dytham Architecture has unveiled a community hall for recovering city Sōma, designed to look like a huge straw hat (+ slideshow). More about Klein Dytham builds latticed community hall for Toyo Ito's post-earthquake recovery programme
Scottish design agency Suisse is raising funds to develop its RD-Shelter prototype, which could be rapidly deployed to house people displaced by war or natural disasters. More about Suisse seeks funding for folding emergency shelter prototype
Tents are a quick response to the need for emergency shelter, but "it's money that melts" says Venice Architecture Biennale 2016 director Alejandro Aravena. More about Refugee tents are a waste of money, says Alejandro Aravena
Moscow studio Arch Group has designed a concept for an operations control centre for handling emergency situations in Russia, featuring a domed room filled with mobile seat pods. More about Arch Group proposes dispatch centre for Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations
Japanese studio Nendo has designed a minimal emergency kit for those affected by earthquakes, containing a whistle, radio, raincoat, lantern, water container and multipurpose case in a slender tube (+ slideshow). More about Nendo's MINIM+AID kit contains emergency supplies for earthquake victims
Bangkok-based architect Jun Sekino designed these elevated classrooms in northern Thailand in response to a severe earthquake, which destroyed the school's original building (+ slideshow). More about Jun Sekino replaces earthquake-damaged school in Thailand with stilted classrooms
Built in the wake of an earthquake, this secondary school in northern Thailand by Vin Varavarn Architects is raised above the ground on metal stilts (+ slideshow). More about Earthquake-resistant school in Thailand raised up on stilts by Vin Varavarn Architects
Dutch Design Week 2015: Design Academy Eindhoven has undergone a "paradigm shift" with students now more interested in responding to real-world problems such as Europe's refugee crisis than making beautiful objects for collectors, according to creative director Thomas Widdershoven. More about Design Academy Eindhoven students "see crisis in the world and respond to it"
Chicago Architecture Biennial 2015: Vietnam-based Vo Trong Nghia Architects has unveiled a third prototype of its low-cost housing design, which is now moving towards mass production (+ slideshow). More about Vo Trong Nghia Architects' low-cost housing moves towards mass production
This adaptable shelter system is providing temporary housing for refugees displaced by conflict in their home countries. More about SURI modular housing system provides emergency shelter for refugees
Opinion: Vienna-based designer Talia Radford was among the volunteers who helped thousands of refugees passing through Austria over the weekend. In this piece for Dezeen, she calls on designers across Europe to find solutions for some of the practical problems caused by the crisis. More about Design is about people – including refugees
Opinion: architects' proposals for pre-empting and adapting to the natural crises brought about by climate change aren't necessarily as superficial and politically correct as they may seem, says Mimi Zeiger. More about "These initiatives represent an opportunistic desire to play with extreme conditions"