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Analysis of the nature and management of hazards and disasters.
The HAZM401 course provides essential background concepts for a critical understanding of hazard and disaster management situations and practices. Although the course assumes no background in hazard management, topics such as natural system behaviour and statistics will be used so some background in geomorphology or environmental science would be advantageous. Students lacking such background should discuss course standards and expectations further before enrolling unless they have a sound background in Engineering, Geology or Physical Geography.
Students successfully completing this course will:Have a clear understanding of the basic terminology used in geohazard studies, particularly “hazard”, “risk” and “disaster”.Be aware of current legislation in New Zealand impacting on hazard management policies and practices.Have a clear overview of the physical processes of natural systems, as well as the associated hazards in terms of magnitude and frequency.Understand the contribution of human systems to the occurrence of disastersBe familiar with case studies relating to a variety of hazards, and the disaster management implications.Be able to carry out a hazard assessment within a specified geographic area, including being able to identify the principal natural processes and their potential impacts.
Subject to approval of the Programme Director, Department of Geological Sciences
July – course introduction and formulation of research planAugust – collection of data and submission of individual reports September – collection of data and writing of group report October – Presentation of personal research for group report and submission of group report
For further information see Geological Sciences Head of Department
There is no final examination for HAZM401.
• Complex Adaptive Systems: An Introduction to Computational Models of Social Life (Princeton Studies in Complexity) J H Miller & S E Page• The Science of Disasters: Climate Disruptions, Heart Attacks and Market Crashes. Bunde, A., Kroppe, J. and Schellnhuber, H.J. • Disasters by Design (Mileti 2000)• Natural hazards: explanation and integration (Tobin & Montz 1996)Resources –AS/NZS 4360:1999 Risk Management– Various websites- readings for each module: to be advised.
Library Geology Portal Library Civil Engineering Portal
HAZM401 provides essential background concepts for a critical understanding of hazard and disaster risk management situations and practices. The course assumes no specific background and is presented in such a way that students from a wide range of disciplines can benefit from it. It treats hazards and risks in a complex systems context applicable to, for example, natural disasters, business, biosecurity, insurance, health, engineering and recreation. The course deals with the nature of hazard and disaster risks – what they are, why they occur, why they are increasing and ways in which they might be managed. The roles of natural science and social/cultural factors (e.g. economics, risk perception, world-views) in understanding and managing hazards and disasters are studied. Consideration of the limitations on management of hazards and disasters set by economic, institutional, social and cultural expectations leads to comparison of the potential for reducing the effects of disasters by modifying human system behaviour. Case studies and exercises illustrate the points being made.The course comprises six modules of two weeks each. Classes will meet each week in Room 210, von Haast Building, for a 2 hour session (schedule to be advised). Topics will include:The conceptual basis of disasters; complex dynamic system behaviour; Order out of Chaos - patterns of system behaviour; application to natural systems and natural disasters; application to complex social systems and their disasters; predicting complex system behaviour.In addition to the scheduled seminars/discussion sessions a 2 day field trip will be held on the weekend of 9 & 10 March to examine natural hazards and other risks in the Franz Josef area of Westland. Further local trips or laboratories may be organised to complement other seminars.
Course DescriptionHAZM 401 provides essential background concepts for a critical understanding of hazard and disaster management situations and practices. Although the course assumes no background in hazard management, topics such as natural system behaviour and statistics will be used so some background in geomorphology or environmental science would be advantageous. Students lacking such background should discuss course standards and expectations further before enrolling unless they have a sound background in Engineering, Geology or Physical Geography.Course ContentThe course deals with the nature of hazards and disasters – what they are, why they occur and why they are increasing. The roles of science, engineering and social/cultural factors in understanding and managing hazards and disasters are studied. Consideration of the limitations on management of hazards and disasters set by economic, institutional, social and cultural expectations leads to comparison of the potential for reducing death and damage from disasters by modifying natural systems and humansystems. The management of disasters, and recovery from them, is related to the intensity of the disaster and the degree of preparation of the affected communities. Case studies and exercises illustrate the points being made.(a) The context – sustainable development in the presence of natural system activity. How do disasters happen? Nature, people, resources and hazards; examples from practiceField visit to Franz Josef Glacier (8 hrs; weeks 1, 2)b) Natural system behaviour- “event” magnitude and frequency; extreme behaviour; statistics & probability ->risk assessment; chaotic behaviour. Prediction & forecasting (4 hrs; weeks 3, 4)c) Human responses to natural system behaviour. Causes of disasters – chains of events. (4hrs; weeks 5, 6)d) Effects of disasters – physical/economic/social/community, short-term and long-term. Opportunities for disaster reduction: land-use, warning/evacuation, engineering, insurance. Costs & benefits of reduction. Emergency management. Recovery from Disasters. (4 hrs; weeks 7, 8) (e) Hazard management framework Hazard management processes – science, planning, engineering Legal framework in New Zealand summary – RMA, BA, CDEMA, LGA, SWCAInstitutional framework/processes – MfE, MCDEM, RCs, TLAs, CDEM Groups, lifelines etc (8 hrs; weeks 9 – 12)
Domestic fee $921.00
International Postgraduate fees
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Geological Sciences .