Methods and Techniques of Risk Assessment and Management

Recommended Prerequisites

Scientific and technical expertise of Master Science level or high level of professional or scientific curriculum.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical-practical classes, with the help of audio-visual equipment, where concepts, methods and techniques are presented and debated, followed by practical applications and case studies.

Student exploration of methods and techniques with teacher’s support, either individually or in group. Evaluation based on a revue paper on a topic studied in the curricular unit, a presentation and discussion.

Learning Outcomes

To provide information about the theoretical concepts of Hazard, Risk, Disaster and Vulnerability; Assessment and Management; Risk Perception and Communication;

To characterize natural and technological hazards, in general, and to provide detailed information on relevant hazards at national or local level;

To provide tools in risk assessment and management in natural and technological hazards, including risk perception, risk negotiation and risk communication.

To endow students with capacities in the field of risk assessment and management related to natural and technological hazards;

To provide students with capacity building in multi-disciplinary teams dealing with prevention and mitigation of natural and technological hazards.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Concepts: Hazard, Risk, Disaster and Vulnerability;

Risk Assessment and Management;

Risk perception and communication;

Natural Hazards: Methods of risk assessment (floods, droughts, fires, coastal erosion, earthquakes,…)

Technological Hazards: Methods of risk assessment (industrial accidents, accidents associated with transportation of dangerous goods, dam failure);

Study cases: Densely populated areas and coastal areas in a global change context.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria Isabel da Silva Nunes

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 100.0%

Bibliography

Almeida, A. B.; Ramos, C. M.; Santos, M. A.; Viseu, T., 2003. Dam Break Flood Risk Management in Portugal, Lisboa: LNEC.

Bickerstaff, K., 2004. Risk perception research: socio-cultural perspectives on the public experience of air pollution, Environment International, 30, 827-840.

Fleming, G., 2002. Flood Risk Management, London: Thomas Telford Limited.

Klinke , A. and Renn, O., 2002. A new approach to risk evaluation and management: risk-based, precautionbased, and discourse-based strategies, Risk Analysis, 22(6), 1071 – 1094).

Rees, J. A., 2002. Risk and Integrated Water Management. Global Water Partnership.

Schmidt-Tomé, P., 2005. The Spatial Effects and Management of Natural and Technological Hazards in Europe, ESPON 1.3.1, European Community. http://www.gsf.fi/projects/espon

Smith, K., 2004. 4rd Ed., Environmental Hazards, Routledge: New York.