Course overview
Climate and natural hazard risks such as bushfires, floods, sea level rise and heatwaves are increasing as a result of climate change, population growth, an ageing population and economic development. This course provides participants with the opportunity to explore (i) different approaches to quantifying climate and natural hazard risk, (ii) how these risks could change into the future in response to population and climate change and (iii) how risk can be reduced using a range of strategies, including structural measures, land management, land use planning and changes to building codes. This is done in the context of the risks associated with bushfires, heatwaves, riverine flooding and sea level rise. Participants also have the opportunity to apply the above concepts as part of daily and weekly projects, as well as a major project of their choice, enabling them to explore topics such as how risk could change over time under different plausible future scenarios, what the most effective risk reduction strategies might be, how to best manage risks from multiple hazards, what strategies are most effective for increasing community resilience, how to present hazard risk information to best engage communities in natural hazard risk reduction activities, how to present hazard risk information to communities most effectively, or other relevant topics of their choice. This course will provide participants with the basic tools to undertake such analyses using GIS, as well as connecting participants with relevant literature, open-source data and models.
Course learning outcomes
- Understand the mechanisms underlying a range of natural hazards (e.g. bushfire, riverine flooding, coastal inundation, heatwaves, cyclones and storms, and earthquakes) and understand, quantify, critically assess and discuss the spatial variability in the severity and likelihood of different natural hazards.
- Understand, quantify, critically assess and discuss the spatial variability in the impact and risk of different types of "assets" (e.g. buildings, critical infrastructure, people, environment).
- Understand, quantify, critically assess and discuss the impact of different drivers of change (e.g. climate and population change) and resulting plausible future conditions on changes in impact and risk.
- Understand, quantify, critically assess and discuss the advantages, disadvantages and relative effectiveness of different risk reduction options.
- Understand, critically assess and discuss different approaches and mechanisms for increasing the chances of implementing adaptive risk management plans.
- Use GIS tools and data sources effectively for natural hazard risk mapping and management, including obtaining and harmonising data from different sources in order to undertake analysis.
- Communicate disaster risks effectively through GIS analysis and maps.