EARTHQUAKES GEOLOGY, NATURAL HAZARDS MITIGATION AND THE ROLE OF CIVIL PROTECTION
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
The student must have basic knowledge of mathematics, geography, geology and statistics. Basic knowledge of English language is required.
Verification of learning will be through an oral final exam. Either theorical knowledge and real case studies or scenarios will be part of the examination. A written report, dealing with an in-depth analysis of one of the topics addressed during the course, is required as well. The report has to be delivered at least 1 week before the oral exam. On a voluntary basis, the oral exam may begin with the discussion of a case history from a scientific paper published in English.
The final vote is based on the oral exam (80%) and the written report (20%, 2/3 of which for the contents and 1/3 for formal requirements). The final mark is given based on quality and completeness of answers, ability to use technical language, ability to elaborate a critical reasoning in an autonomous way.
If required, compensatory tools and/or dispensatory measures will be guaranteed, upon verification of the personalized education plan compiled by the competent institutional office.
The course will provide knowledge on the seismic cycle phases and on seismic risk assessment. The evaluation of the probability of earthquake occurrence and of the vulnerability of the physical and built environment will be discussed.
General principles and practices adopted during the emergency phase in the aftermath of an event, and in civil protection planning will be addressed as well.
The main topics addressed during the course include:
- Plate tectonics, faulting style (2 hours).
- Earthquakes: physical process and seismic cycle (4 hours).
- Slip rates and recurrence models; episodic and clustered behaviour; fault interaction (4 hours).
- Seismograms, PGA, PGV, ground motion prediction equations and attenuation models (4 hours).
- Macroseismic survey: intensity scales, isoseismals (4 hours).
- Amplification phenomena, resonance frequency, fragility curves (4 hours).
- Surface faulting: setback distance and probabilistic fault displacement hazard assessment (4 hours).
- Earthquake-induced effects: landslides and liquefaction; landslide susceptibility and liquefaction potential assessment (4 hours).
- Seismic hazard assessment: deterministic and probabilistic approaches; Cornell’s method (4 hours).
- Civil protection plans: national regulations and global examples (8 hours).
- Seismic microzonation: principles and practice (6 hours).
The material used during the lessons and exercises will be made available to the student on the e-learning platform.
RECOMMENDED TEXTS
McCalpin, J. Paleoseismology, 2nd Edition, 2009, Academic Press, 848 p.
Yeats, Robert S.; Sieh, Kerry E .; Allen, Clarence R. The geology of earthquakes. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997, 568 p.
Criteria for seismic microzonation (in Italian), available at:
http://www.protezionecivile.gov.it/media-comunicazione/pubblicazioni/det...
INTERESTING SITES FOR INTEGRATION
http://www.protezionecivile.gov.it/home
http://www.ingv.it/it/
https://www.centromicrozonazionesismica.it/it/
https://www.usgs.gov/
Frontal class lecture, for a total of 48 hours. Exercises and practical examples will be presented as well.
A written report is requested as well.
I am available to meet the students upon request, please send me an email.