EARTHQUAKES GEOLOGY, NATURAL HAZARDS MITIGATION AND THE ROLE OF CIVIL PROTECTION
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
The student must have basic knowledge of mathematics, 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.
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 institutional offices.
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.
Expected outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will have learned the key concepts on earthquake geology and seismic risk, and will be able to apply and communicate them in a multidisciplinary environment.
Knowledges:
- Understand the basic processes of active tectonics and seismic cycle and of civil protection activities in the emergency phase
- Understand a civil protection plan and information deriving from different disciplines (geology, engineering, civil planning)
Ability to apply the knowledge:
- Understand and comment scientific literature and technical documents written in English
- Evaluate different approaches, identifying relative advantages and criticalities.
- Integrate multidisciplinary information and, if not complete or not in agreement, critically evaluate them.
Communication skills:
- Synthetize relevant information and to communicate to professionals
- Write a technical report on one of the course topics, either theorical or a related to a case history.
The main topics addressed during the course include:
- Course introduction. Plate tectonics, faulting styles (4 hours).
- Earthquakes: physical process and seismic cycle; seismograms, PGA, PGV (2 hours).
- Slip rates and recurrence models; episodic and clustered behaviour; fault interaction and seismic sequences (4 hours).
- Macroseismology: intensity scales, attenuation relations, deriving source parameters (4 hours).
- Pre-instrumental earthquakes (2 hours).
- Surface faulting: setback distance and probabilistic fault displacement hazard assessment (4 hours).
- Earthquake-induced effects: landslides, liquefaction, tsunamis and hydrogeological effects (6 hours).
- Seismic hazard assessment: deterministic and probabilistic approaches; Cornell’s method (4 hours).
- From hazard to risk; disaster risk reduction (4 hours).
- Civil protection and civil protection plans: national regulations and global examples (4 hours).
- Seismic microzonation: principles and practice (2 hours).
- Case histories: 2012 Emilia-Romagna, 2016 Central Italy; earthquakes in volcanic areas; induced earthquakes (8 hours).
Frontal class lecture, for a total of 48 hours. Case histories will be analyzed, either from scientific literature or technical documentation. 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.