GE4-306 Natural hazards in spatial planning

Contents and structure

The course provides the student with insights into different kinds of natural hazards. Focus is laid on geohazards and hazard types that may be sensitive to climatic factors and changes, e.g. landslides, floods and wildfires. In addition, the course gives insights into processes that, in turn, may affect weather and climate. Examples of these phenomena are investigated further during practical exercises. An important part of the training aims to enable the student to recognize and understand the potential danger of natural hazards and assess their risk. This training allows the student to evaluate the need for mitigation measures and the potential in risk reduction for different types of measures.

Learning Outcome

The student has knowledge about:

• driving and triggering factors of natural hazards and how they interplay
• process development and propagation of hazardous events
• how climate change can affect the frequency and magnitude of natural hazards
• how natural hazards can affect infrastructure and people

The student will able to:

• understand the content of reports and articles dealing with natural hazards.
• conduct basic assessments of the danger and extent of potential events, based on the analysis of maps, databases, available reports and numerical models

The student can:

• communicate with decision-makers and the general public about natural hazards
• identify and specify potential hazard zones that should be assessed by specialists (e.g. geologists) before spatial plans are implemented

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

None

Teaching methods

Lessons, assignments, project work and excursions.

Excursions:

- Field trips to different locations in western Norway, where students investigate unstable/slide-prone slopes, morphological landslide features and flood damage

Compulsory learning activities

• Approved reports from 3 written assignments
• 1 approved digital test
• Attendance of 3 field excursions and approved associated field reports
• Project work and approved oral presentation of the project

The project consists of a case study of an area potentially subjected to one or more types of natural hazards. Students work together in groups of 2-4. The following should be presented from the project: Description of the research question, geographic and geological framework of the area, hazard history derived from existing maps, databases and available reports, field observations, a hazard and risk evaluation and suggested mitigation measures.

Assessment

Individual 4 hrs written exam

Grading A-F

Examination support material

ruler

calculator

More about examination support material

Course reductions

• GE4-302 - Geohazards for land-use planning - Reduction: 5 studypoints