Geography of Risks and Disasters

Year
0
Academic year
2018-2019
Code
01013980
Subject Area
Área Científica do Menor
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

Classroom based. Classes are divided into a theoretical component, supported by lectures, complemented with a practical component, based on fieldwork, preferably held in the Central Region of Portugal, due to its geographical proximity.

Practical exercises will be applied to specific cases, preferably from the area surrounding Coimbra.  A substantial part of the practical work will be done during class, to benefit from monitoring and guidance.

Learning Outcomes

Risks and Disasters aims to:

• Provide students with the overall context of Risks and Disasters, by studying the main types of risks to which Civil Defense Agents are called to respond;

• Understand the different causes that have given rise to various types of risks.

• Promote "risk analysis", awakening the "consciousness" for different types of risks in order to implement the respective measures for prevention/protection.

• Encourage "hazard assessment" leading to "perception" of the imminent dangers and consequent stimulation of the respective measures of response/emergency.

• Understand different forms of "crisis management" to provide "mitigation" of its effects through adequate relief, and the application of emergency rehabilitation measures and subsequently, recovery of the areas affected by the full manifestation of the risk.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Introduction to Cindynic Science

a) Definition and purpose of Cindynic Science;

b) Theory of Risk;

c) Processes and Vulnerabilities;

d) Risk Classification;

e) Socio-economic importance of the study of risks.

1.   Risks and natural disasters

1.1.   Sidereals;

1.2.   Geophysical;

1.3.   Climatic and Meteorological;

1.4.   Hydrological;

1.5.   Geomorphological;

1.6.   Biological.

2.   Risks and anthropogenic disasters

2.1.   Technological;

2.2.   Social;

2.3.   Biophysical.

3.   Risks and  mixed disasters

3.1.   Atmospheric component;

3.2.   Geodynamic component

3.3.   Dendrological.

Conclusion: From risk consciousness to crisis mitigation:

a.       From consciousness to risk analysis and preventative measures;

b.       From perception to risk assessment and contingency planning;

c.       From management to crisis mitigation and rehabilitation measures.

Head Lecturer(s)

Luciano Fernandes Lourenço

Assessment Methods

Continuous Assessment
Fieldwork or laboratory work (5%) + Other (5%): 10.0%
Research work: 40.0%
Frequency: 50.0%

Bibliography

Amaro, António D. (2009) - O socorro em Portugal.

Ascher, François (2010) - Novos princípios do Urbanismo.

Blaikie, P., Cannon, T., Davis, I. & Wisner, B. (1994) - At risk - natural hazards, people’s vulnerability and disasters.

Beck,  Ulrich (1992) - Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. Sage: London.

Beck,  Ulrich (1998)  - World Risk Society.

Brugnot, G. (2001) – Gestion spatiale des risques.

Fadigas, Leonel (2007) – Fundamentos ambientais do Ordenamento do Território e da Paisagem.

Faugères, L., Vasarhelyi, P. e Villain-Gandossi, C. (1990) - Le risque et la crise, la crise.

Kevern, G. Y. e Ruibise, P. (1991) – L’archipeldudanger.

Lagadec, P. (1995) – Cellule de crise.

Luhmann, Niklas (1990) - Essaysonself-reference.

Luhmann, Niklas (1995) - Social systems.

Oliver-Smith, A. &Hoffman, S. M. (Ed.)  (1999) - TheAngryEarth.

Slovic, Paul (2007) - TheperceptionofRisk.

Smith, Keith (2001) - EnvironmentalHazards.

UNSDR (2009) - UNISDR TerminologyonDisasterRiskReduction.