Course - Geohazards and Risk - TBA5150
Geohazards and Risk
Choose study yearAbout
About the course
Course content
The course will include:
- terminology used in risk assessment
- a brief insight into various geohazards landslide types, debris flow, rock fall
- identification of sources and types of uncertainties in problems related to geohazards
- discussion of the potential benefits of a probabilistic compared to a deterministic approach
- review relevant statistical and probabilistic theories needed to develop the methodologies and to interpret the results of the probabilistic analyses
- Application of probabilistic analysis as applied to geotechnical analysis, such as First Order Second Moment (FOSM) method and the First Order Reliability Method (FORM), event tree and logic tree construction, reliability of "systems"
- methods for prevention and mitigation of geohazards
- discussion on risk reduction strategies e.g., F-N diagram
- spatial variability and its impact
- basic knowledge of consultation
Learning outcome
Knowledge
This course is about dealing with uncertainty: Its better to be probably right than exactly wrong! The candidate should have knowledge of:
- How to characterize and model uncertainties in geotechnical parameters (soils and rocks), quantify variability in soil profiles, loading and resistance factors as well as the calculation methods
- Describing and formulating a geotechnical problem using a reliability approach
- Incorporating uncertainties in conventional geotechnical analyses
- Performing hazards related to slope or foundation failures, avalanches and earthquakes
- Considering risk acceptance/tolerance criteria
- Considering risk management and reduction measures (reliability based decision-making and mitigation).
Skills
The candidate can:
- Identify sources of uncertainties in a given geotechnical problem, define relevant and critical failure modes or unwanted events
- Assess probability of occurrence
- Plan and perform reliability/risk analyses
- Calculate/predict consequences
- Make optimized decisions based on reliability analyses
- Recommend actions for risk reduction and/or risk mitigation and contribute to sustainable solutions.
General competence
The candidate can:
- Make sound engineering judgments with a special focus on numerical simulations in geomechanics
- Develop sustainable solutions for our built environment
- Compose clear presentation
- Work in teams.
Learning methods and activities
Lecture, term project, assignments.
Compulsory assignments
- Assignments
Further on evaluation
The exam is divided in three parts which together add up to the final grade: Written school exam (46 %), semester test (24 %) and group assignment (30 %).
Obligatory assignments: The candidate should submit three mandatory assignments before they are allowed to take the final exam.
If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may be changed from written to oral. For a re-take of an examination, all assessments during the course must be re-taken. The parts of the assessment is given a letter grade. A failing grade on a part of the assessment can be included in the final grade.
Recommended previous knowledge
BSc degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent. Basic courses in geotechnics. Introductory understanding of probability and statistics. But we can still go through and deepen your understanding of statistics and probability in semester start.
Course materials
Lecture notes presented by the geotechnical division.
Subject areas
- Marine Civil Engineering
- Hydraulic Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning - Refrigeration Plants and Heat Pumps
- Railway Engineering
- Highway Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Geology
- Technological subjects