GEO4034 ¨C Geohazards

Course content

Objectives

Geohazards are events coupled to geological and/or geophysical processes, which can potentially cause damage to the environment and/or society. The course aims at introducing different types of geohazards, their potential consequences and how disasters can be prevented. Emphasis is placed on Norwegian geohazards, but extreme events from other parts of the world will be discussed. The course will develop an understanding of the geological and physical processes driving geohazards and how society can be affected. An introduction will be given to geotechnical methods for handling geohazards and the mitigation measures that can be implemented to prevent disastrous events. Special attention will be given to building up an understanding of the interplay between nature and society, and how this interplay controls the potential consequences of an event.

Content

The main focus will be placed on processes causing landslides, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, as well as their possible consequences, in addition to methods for quantifying their hazard and risk. In addition, we will discuss potential interlinkages between different types of geohazards, disaster prevention and management, and quantification and communication of uncertainties. The course will include three components: a theoretical, a practical and a field-based part. The theoretical teaching activities will mostly be student active. An important part of the course will be a series of practical exercises allowing the student to work with different aspects of the syllabus. In order to understand relevant geohazards in Norway, an excursion will be arranged where different geohazards (e.g. landslides and floods) will be presented with different risk mitigation measures. The students will also have the possibility to identify potential and previous events in the field.

Learning outcome

On completion of the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• an overview of the physical and geological processes causing geohazards such as landslides, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
• knowledge of the formation of different landforms and deposits related to geohazards
• knowledge to describe methods for quantifying hazard for the individual geohazards and factors controlling their uncertainty
• knowledge of geotechnics and which mitigation measures can be used to reduce risk related to different geohazards
• understanding of possible consequences of geohazards as well as risk and disaster management
• knowledge of possible interactions between geohazards and their consequences

Skills

The student is able to

• perform simple quantitative analyses (e.g. calculate landslide runout, calculate expected earthquake ground shaking)
• recognize deposits and landforms related to geohazards
• present and analyze data in a Geographical Information System (GIS)
• visualize observations/data/principles of geohazards graphically
• recognize and discuss risk mitigation measures for catastrophic geohazard events
• identify and categorize slide deposits in the field
• perform an independent analysis and present the findings in an oral presentation

General competence

The student can

• use precise terminology to describe and discuss geohazards and their consequences orally and in writing
• recognize, assess and communicate the human role in, impact on and consequences of geohazards
• work individually and in groups, and ethically correctly, with peers
• do fieldwork during an excursion in agreement with the HSE-regulations at GEO/UiO

Admission to the course

Students admitted at UiO must?apply for courses?in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other master's degree programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may?apply to take this course as a single course student.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

The courses GEO4034?and GEO3034?have a joint admission?with a joint capacity of 25?students.?

If there are more than 25?applicants, the applicants will be ranked after the following categories:

1. Students admitted to one of the following programmes:

   • Geologi og geografi (bachelor)

   • Geofysikk og klima (bachelor)

2. Students admitted to the following programme:

   • Lektorprogrammet (master), programme option: Realfag

3. Students admitted to the following programme option (master):?

   • Environmental Geosciences, Geohazards, and Geomatics (programme option)

4. Other master's students admitted to one of the following:

   • Geosciences (master)

   • Computational Science (master)

5. Exchange students on an agreement with (in prioritized order):

   • a) The Department of Geosciences

   • b) The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MN).?

   • c) The University of Oslo

6. Students admitted to other bachelor programmes at the MN Faculty at the University of Oslo

7. Other students

Applicants will be ranked by the number of ECTS credits within each category:?all applicants within category 1 are ranked before applicants in category 2. If there are space limitations in the course, available places will be given to students selected randomly among those with the same amount of ECTS credits.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

• GEO1100 ¨C Evolution of the Earth or equivalent
• GEO1110 ¨C Earth Processes / GEO2300 ¨C Geophysical Modelling or equivalent

The course includes a compulsory field course and excursions. A health and safety course for safety in the field must be passed before you can go on these:

• HMS0504 ¨C Field Safety

Recommended previous knowledge

• GEO2120 ¨C Sedimentology / GEO2210 ¨C Geomorphology / GEO2330 ¨C Hydrology / GEO3460 ¨C Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Geographical Data Acquisition / GEO2130 ¨C Structural Geology /?GEO2140 ¨C Solid Earth Geophysics or equivalent

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with GEO3034 ¨C Geohazards.
• 10 credits overlap with GEO4181 ¨C Introduction to Natural Hazards (continued).

Teaching

The course will be taught through a series of student active seminars and exercises, combined with self-study and portfolio work. There will be a mandatory excursion as part of the course.

Assessment will be granted when the following assignments have been approved:

• approved field diary
• completed and approved 10 quiz assignments in connection with teaching
• completed and approved 3?portfolio assignments:
  • a poster
  • a group report
  • an individual written text
• 2 GIS-assignments, completed and approved, in connection to teaching
• submitted reflection note

Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no).

We reserve the right to change the teaching form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.

General information about excursions at the Department of Geosciences

As the teaching involves laboratory and/or fieldwork, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.

Cost of taking the course

Participation in the excursion is mandatory. The excursion has a fee of NOK 150?per day (if accommodation).

Examination

The student will be assessed based on a portfolio that covers the following:

• 10 quizzes to be completed at the beginning of each class session count 10% towards the final grade.
• Poster (group project) count 20% towards the final grade.
• Risk communication project (group project) count 20% towards the final grade.?
• Term paper (individual) count 30% towards the final grade,
• Oral presentation count 20% towards the final grade.
• All exam parts need to be submitted in order to get the portfolio assessed.

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

It will also be counted as 1 of the 3 attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:

• GEO3034 ¨C Geohazards
• GEO4181 ¨C Introduction to Natural Hazards (continued)

Language of examination

Courses taught in English will only offer the exam paper in English. You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are?offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.