This course deals with the procedures to collect, analyze and evaluate spatial information for risk assessment from natural and human-induced hazards (such as geological hazard, hydro-meteorological hazards, environmental hazards and technological hazards). The course will guide you through the entire process of risk assessment, on the basis of a case study of a city exposed to multiple hazards, in a developing country (Risk City). Also, a number of case studies are used from Europe (Italy, France), China, and Georgia. 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the end of this course the participants will be able to:

• Understand the concepts of hazard assessment, elements at risk mapping, vulnerability assessment, and risk assessment;
• Formulate the spatial data requirements for risk assessment; 
• Generate an elements at risk data base using GIS;
• Formulate the requirements of hazard data and methods;
• Apply various methods for vulnerability assessment;
• Generate risk maps using qualitative and quantitative methods;
• Have insight in how a risk assessment could be carried out in your own situation; 

DURATION

5 Days

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

The training is intended for professionals working in development areas mostly.

COURSE CONTENT

Module 1: Introduction to risk assessment

• Theory: Introduction to disaster risk management and risk assessment. 
• Exercise: Generation of a hazard profile using disaster databases; Introduction to ILWIS, and introduction to the RiskCity dataset. Learn the various hazard problems by evaluating high-resolution images 

Module 2: Obtaining spatial data for risk assessment

• Theory: Presentation of data requirements for the various types of hazards. Sources of spatial data.
• Exercises: Defining spatial data requirements for risk assessment; Internet search for information on risk assessment; acquiring free and low-cost data; generating three-dimensional image data using Google Earth; stereo image interpretation

Module 3: Hazard Assessment

• Theory: Hazard types; Main concepts of hazard assessment; Frequency magnitude – relationships
• Exercises: Frequency assessment; Selection of hazard assessment example (flooding, landslides, earthquakes, technological hazards, volcanic hazards etc)

 Module 4: Elements of risk assessment

• Theory: Types of elements at risk; classification of buildings, infrastructure, lifelines, critical facilities; population information; a collection of elements at risk information.
• Exercise: Generating elements at risk database from scratch; Generating elements at risk database using available data (building footprint map, census data, and LiDAR) 

Module 5: Vulnerability assessment

• Theory: Types of vulnerability; social vulnerability; physical vulnerability; methods for vulnerability assessment; participatory GIS; Spatial Multi-Criteria Evaluation
• Exercises: Defining vulnerability curves; Spatial Multicriteria evaluation for vulnerability assessment

Module 6: Risk assessment

• Theory: Loss estimation models; HAZUS; qualitative risk assessment; QRA; basics of flood risk, seismic risk, landslide and technological risk assessment;
• Exercises: Creating risk curves; Selection of risk assessment method: flooding, earthquakes, landslides, technological.

Module 7: Risk Management

• Theory: Risk evaluation; risk governance; risk communication; cost-benefit analysis; Using risk information for emergency planning; spatial planning, and Environmental Impact Assessment
• Exercises: Multi-hazard risk assessment for buildings; assessing economic losses; Cost benefit analysis

Module 8: Final project and examination

• Discussion: How to do such a study in your area?
• Final Project: Selection of project topic related to risk assessment and its use in risk management

GENERAL NOTES

• This course is delivered by our seasoned trainers who have vast experience as expert professionals in the respective fields of practice. The course is taught through a mix of practical activities, theory, group works and case studies.
• Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.
• Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a certificate.