AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this module is to provide fundamentals of multi-hazard and multi-risk modelling. At the end of the course the student will be able to apply multi-hazard and multi-risk concepts and definitions and describe the available approaches for qualitative and quantitative multi-hazard risk modelling. Furthermore, the student will be able to select the best approaches to manage multi-hazard risk and implement multi-hazard disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies. The knowledge of risk assessment and management approaches that consider multiple hazards and their potential interactions will help the student to better understand and capture the real risk that many areas of the world are prone to, allowing to implement more successful DRR measures.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• Apply the specific terminology used in the field of multi-hazard and multi-risk 
• Report the most relevant outcomes from the available scientific literature
• Describe the different interaction mechanisms between hazards and the available modelling approaches, providing examples 
• Describe the main approaches for multi-hazard exposure, vulnerability, damage, and risk assessment
• Describe how to implement multi-hazard approaches in the different phases of the disaster risk management cycle (prevention and mitigation, preparedness, emergency, recovery)

TEACHING METHODS

• Frontal and participatory teaching
• Individual and group activities
• Seminars of experts in specific topics

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The module will introduce students to multi(-hazard)-risk, a cutting-edge topic in the field of natural hazard disaster risk studies. It focuses on qualitative and quantitative multi-hazard and multi-risk modelling approaches, and how their outcomes can be used in analysing and managing multi-hazard risk conditions. Multi-hazard and multi-risk concepts, definitions, and approaches will be introduced and discussed using available literature and expert seminars as support.

First part – Multi-hazard interactions

In the first part of the course, the different interaction mechanisms between hazards - including triggering, influence, and coincidence - will be analysed, exploring available modelling approaches, and introducing the concept of multiple event probabilities. 

Second part – Multi-hazard impact and risk assessment

In the second part, multi-vulnerability, multi-hazard exposure, and multi-hazard damage assessment will be investigated, considering also changes in multi-hazard risk due to climate change, land-use change, and population changes. 

Third part – Multi-hazard Disaster Risk Management 

In the final part, multi-hazard approaches in the different phases of the disaster risk management cycle (preparedness, emergency, recovery) will be explored and multi-hazard disaster risk reduction measures able to successfully reduce the impacts of disasters across different hazards will be investigated, including the analysis of potential asynergies among hazards.

This course contributes to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda: Objectives no. 10 - REDUCE INEQUALITIES, 11 - SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES, 13 - CLIMATE ACTION.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Digital course material: Slides of the lecturers (Required) 
• Seminar presentations (Required)
• Research papers and technical reports (Optional)

All the material will be provided at the end of each class on AulaWeb

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written exam with both close-ended and open-ended questions covering the topics of the whole program (including lectures and seminars). 

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it), the disability liaison for the Engineering study programs.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

 The assessment will concern:

- the capacity to express the program contents with clarity and precision of terminology

- the capacity to link the theoretical topics discussed in the program with examples and real cases