HAZM401-12S1 (C) Semester One 2012

Introduction to Hazards and Disasters

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 20 February 2012
End Date: Sunday, 24 June 2012
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 4 March 2012
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 20 May 2012

Description

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.

Learning Outcomes

  • * The context – sustainable development in the presence of natural system activity. How do disasters happen? Examples from practice
    * Natural system behaviour
    * Human responses to natural system behaviour
    * Disasters and Recovery
    * Hazard management framework

    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 disasters
  • Be 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.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Programme Director, Department of Geological Sciences

Timetable Note

July – course introduction and formulation of research plan
August – 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

Course Coordinator

For further information see Geological Sciences Head of Department

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Assignment 1 20% Course participation and peer reviews
Assignment 2 30 Mar 2012 20%
Assignment 3 11 May 2012 20%
Assignment 4 08 Jun 2012 40%


There is no final examination for HAZM401.

Notes

In addition to the scheduled 2-hour seminars (Thursday afternoon; Room 210; 2–4 pm), a 2 day field trip will be held on the weekend of 24 & 25 March to examine natural hazards in the Franz Josef area of Westland.

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

Course Description
HAZM 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 Content
The 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 practice
Field 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, SWCA
Institutional framework/processes – MfE, MCDEM, RCs, TLAs, CDEM Groups, lifelines etc
(8 hrs; weeks 9 – 12)

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $885.00

* 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 .

All HAZM401 Occurrences

  • HAZM401-12S1 (C) Semester One 2012
Previous year Next year