Aims

Geohazards pose a significant and costly threat, and one that is likely to increase as climate warms. There is no such thing as a ‘natural’ disaster, a disaster only occurs when natural processes intersect with things we value, and, when coping capacities are exceeded. Therefore, the aim of the module is to introduce students to the key concepts and methods involved in geohazard and risk research, and investigate how geographers are contributing. It will provide an overview of the natural, engineering, and interdisciplinary skills required, focusing on analysis of the impacts of natural hazards on individuals, society, and infrastructure. The module will draw on a number of real-world examples and disasters from across the globe, investigating how and why they occurred (root cause analyses), the impacts they had, and how they are researched by geographers. We will consider how geohazards/risks may be mitigated by human intervention, or adapted to through, for example, changes in behaviour and land-use practices. Finally, we will spend time looking at the emergent science of multi-risks and hazard cascades using recent deadly examples from around the world.
The module starts by building fundamental understanding around what key geohazards are, and the core concepts of risk, including hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. It will explore different ways to research risk for effective decision-making. Content is linked to a series of practicals aimed at reinforcing student understanding of key concepts and techniques, including overall risk quantification and modelling, through to specific geohazard examples and disasters.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module consists of 3 blocks:

1. Block 1 will focus on a basic understanding of risk concepts/definitions such as the difference between risk, hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. It will introduce students to key methods for identifying and measuring risk at local to global scales.

2. Block 2 will introduce specific key geohazards and how these processes can turn into potential disasters through their intersection with exposed and vulnerable populations. Students will explore the root causes of disasters using RCA (root cause analyses) which are often complex and cross disciplinary. Indicative geohazards to be covered include: landslides, earthquakes, landslide and glacial outburst floods, sediment slugs, cryospheric hazards, coastal hazards ,
Students will also be introduced to the concept of multi-hazard chains / cascading hazards, and the particular range of challenges these pose in terms of their prediction, mitigation and impacts.

3. Block 3 (which can run alongside the first two) focuses on the application of knowledge through a series of practicals. In any given year the practicals cover timely content which is drawn from:

1.       Risk assessment for specific geohazards or multihazards
2.       Hazard mapping and quantification
3.       Hazard and risk communication to varied key audiences
4.       Simple numerical modelling of geohazards
5.       Data for effective risk reduction decision making pre-, syn- and post disaster
6.       Root cause analyses for diverse geohazards

Practicals can be GIS, remote sensing, spreadsheet, online tool, Google Earth Engine based, and, may involve ‘micro’ / ‘pico’ group presentations to report back finding to the cohort.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will introduce key concepts across a range of spatial and temporal time-scales, and will utilise research and professional practice case-study examples.

Practicals are an experential/learn by doing approach, teaching new skills linked to lecture concepts, and applying them to real-world use cases.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The report assesses the ability of students to develop further a taught method/practical to collect, analyse and present a range of data, and, set this within the theoretical and applied practice context. Staff will provide a range of initial suggestions for how each practical content could be developed through independent analysis, and in-person support through the related drop-in surgery sessions.

The oral/poster presentation allows a group of students to work together to produce a ‘root cause analysis’ of a geohazard disaster, chosen with staff guidance. The RCA is presented as a group poster/talk in a mini ‘disaster forensic analyses’ event where they have been tasked by the insurance industry to establish cause, and, potential future mitigation/adaptation measures. It develops oral and presentation skills and allows engagement with a wide and up to date selection of literature and other non-academic evidence.