
Geological Risk Analysis
Code: 101070Credits: 4
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Geology | OP | 3 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Duna Roda Boluda
- Email :
- duna.roda@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Joan Escuer Solé
- Laura Culi Verdaguer
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
No prerequisite is requested.
Objectives
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the causes, aggravating factors, and consequences of geological hazards, as well as the quantification of their hazard level and the interrelationships between different types of hazards.
The specific objectives are for students to acquire skills in:
- Integrating knowledge of different geological processes that may constitute potential hazards.
- Learning to develop frequency–magnitude relationships in order to quantify the hazard level and the probability of phenomena that may constitute potential hazards.
- Learning to map different types of hazards using satellite imagery and Geographic Information System (GIS) software.
- Applying the acquired knowledge to solve problems related to geological hazards.
- Analyzing case studies of hazards and their cascading consequences.
- Acquiring a basic understanding of the possible mitigation and prevention measures for addressing geological hazards.
- Presenting research projects and analyses of scientific articles in class, either individually or in groups.
Learning outcomes
- CM40 (Evaluate areas of geological risk for the planning and environmental and urban management of the territory, contributing to a sustainable and safe management of the environment.) Evaluate areas of geological risk for the planning and environmental and urban management of the territory, contributing to a sustainable and safe management of the environment.
- KM46 (Identify the extent of different disciplines of geology that are related to environmental sciences.) Identify the extent of different disciplines of geology that are related to environmental sciences.
- KM48 (Identify the magnitude of geological risk processes (volcanic, seismic, landslides, atmospheric, etc.).) Identify the magnitude of geological risk processes (volcanic, seismic, landslides, atmospheric, etc.).
- SM44 (Use specific instruments designed to assess the environmental geological risk of a specific place following the established protocols.) Use specific instruments designed to assess the environmental geological risk of a specific place following the established protocols.
- SM45 (Participate in the resolution of problems related to the environmental impact of actions in the field of geology.) Participate in the resolution of problems related to the environmental impact of actions in the field of geology.
Contents
- Introduction and basic concepts: susceptibility, hazard, exposure, vulnerability. Frequency–magnitude curves and hazard quantification. Types of risk mapping.
- Seismic risk.
- Volcanic risk.
- Soil hazards: erosion, contamination.
- Mass movement risk.
- Hazards in glacial, periglacial, and paraglacial environments.
- Hazards derived from sediment flows and their modification.
- Flood risk.
- Coastal and subsidence hazards.
- Hazards associated with geological materials harmful to health.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical classes | 12 | 0.48 | |
| Study of the subject of examination | 25 | 1 | |
| Problem solving, draft reports. | 29 | 1.16 | |
| Master class | 15 | 0.6 | |
| Field trip | 7 | 0.28 | |
| Tutorials and follow-up activities proposed both face-to-face and virtually | 9 | 0.36 |
The directed activities will consist of: master class of theory, practical activities in the classroom of cartography and in the computer room and a field trip.
Master class
Theoretical knowledge will be transmitted, mainly, in the classroom through master class, with support of ICT and discussion in a large group. Apart from the selected bibliography, students will have a diversified material for the follow-up of classes. These support materials will be available for students on the virtual campus of the subject and at the libraries. The theoretical knowledge acquired by the students will be evaluated through the written tests.
Practicals with the student's personal laptop.
The acquired knowledge will be applied to the practices and simple problems will be solved. Cases of different types of geological risks and their associated cartographies will be interpreted and analyzed. The application of the GIS will be requested to a map of susceptibility.
Field trip and group work
At the field trip the student must acquire a transversal and systemic knowledge of some of the problems worked on the geological risks: recognition of the process, acquisition and validation of data in the field, cartography associated with the risk analyzed. The tasks will be carried out in a group.
The activities will be supported through tutorials in the classroom and at the teacher's office.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd partial exam | 35 | 1.5 | 0.06 | CM40, KM46, KM48, SM45 |
| Reports of laboratory and field practices | 15 | 0 | 0 | CM40, KM46, KM48, SM44, SM45 |
| 1st partial exam | 35 | 1.5 | 0.06 | CM40, KM46, KM48, SM45 |
| Self-study training | 15 | 0 | 0 | CM40, KM46, KM48, SM44, SM45 |
The assessment is carried out throughout the course on a continuous basis, in group and individually.
-Exam: in this part, the scientific-technical knowledge of the subject obtained by the student, as well as their capacity for analysis and synthesis, and critical reasoning, is evaluated individually. The evaluation of the theoretical contents and part of the practical part of the subject is carried out by means of a minimum of 2 written tests that are carried out throughout the course with a weight of 35% each. The contents will be eliminatory (subsequent tests do not include the contents of the previous ones). The qualification of this part is the average of the two written tests, provided that the marks of each one exceed 4.
-Correction of practical activities in the classroom and in the field (15%): it will correspond to the delivery of the reports of practicals solved during the classroom practicals.
-Presentation on case study of a geological hazard event (15%), chosen by the students at the beginning of the course and validated by the team of teachers. This activity will be performed individually or in groups depending on the size of the class group.
To pass the course, it is necessary that the average of the tests is a pass (=>5) and that the average of the practical activities and the course work is also a pass (=>5).
When the mark of the continuous evaluation is less than 5, the final exam can be recovered the partial exams failed.
The two partial tests that will be made jointly on the agreed date for coordination will be subject to recovery. In order to be able to present itself to the recovery it is necessary that the average mark of the continuous assessment corresponds to the reports of classroom and field activities; and of the autonomous course work is equal to or greater than 5.
This subject is included in the single assessment. This will consist of an examination of all the contents of the subject which will correspond to 70%of the grade and the presentation of 2 deliverables from the practical activities included in the subject, which will count for 30% of the grade of the subject. The exam will be held at the same time as the second part of the continuous assessment. The recovery of the single assessment will be done on the same day as the recovery of the continuous assessment.
Bibliography
- Edward A Keller and Duane E DeVecchio. Natural hazards: earth’s processes as hazards, disasters, and catastrophes. Routledge, 2019.
- Dorothy Merritts, Kirsten Menking, and Andrew deWet. Environmental Geology: An Earth Systems Science Approach. W.H. Freeman, Macmillan Learning, 2014.
- Keith Smith, Carina J. Fearnley, Deborah Dixon, Deanne K. Bird, and Ilan Kelman. Environmental Hazards: Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster. 7th ed. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2024.
- Timothy R. Davies, Oliver Korup, and John J. Clague. Geomorphology and Natural Hazards: Understanding Landscape Change for Disaster Mitigation. John Wiley & Sons, American Geophysical Union, 2021.
Software
For the resolution of the practical activities we will use:
-Google Earth
-ArcGis or QGIS
-Microsoft Excel
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PCAM) Field practices | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |