2024-2025 / RISQ2016-1

Technical / technological risks and disasters

Duration

12h Th, 12h Pr

Number of credits

 Advanced Master in Risk and Disaster Management in the Anthropocene Era2 crédits 

Lecturer

Jean-François Demonceau, Benjamin Dewals

Coordinator

Benjamin Dewals

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course gives a general tehoritical backgroiund required to address the problematic of technic and techonological risk assessment. In particular, it focuses on an adequate estimation of uncertainties which affects the data, the parameters, the models as wall as the considered scenarios. The importance of the norms and the codes is also highlighted.
The theoretical concepts which are introduced are then deeply applied to study cases, amongst which:

  • Dam failure
  • Instability of industrial embankments
  • Stability of civil engineering structures
  • Behaviour of structures under earthquake...

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

After the course, the students:

  • will know the main steps to be considered in a technic and technological risk assessment as well as the associated difficulties;
  • will be made aware of the importance of taking into account uncertainties in the risk analysis and will be able to identify the main sources of uncertainty and propose approaches to understand the influence of uncertainties on the results;
  • will acquire the technical vocabulary required to address the issue of risk analysis;
  • will be initiated to the preparation of a brief analysis of the risks associated with constructions or structures (ex dams, buildings) ...

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

The course relies on fundamentals in physics (mechanics) and probability theory.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is based on theoretical lectures and on discussions with the students about real-world case studies. Since the course focuses more on a deep understanding of the concepts, the student is requested to take an active part in the lessons, during which the teachers foster direct interactions with the audience.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Face-to-face lectures.
The teaching mode could be adapted according to the sanitary conditions which could be of application during the first quadrimester.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Slides used during the lectures may be downloaded from eCampus.

The teacher recommends the reading of complementary material. All documents are made available on eCampus.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )


Additional information:

A written exam takes place in January and in September.
No partial exemption is granted.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The course is taught in French, during the first semester.

Main change: the topics covered during the course will be carefully selected so that sufficient time can be allocated to each of them.

Contacts

Jean-François Demonceau: jfdemonceau@uliege.be
Benjamin Dewals: b.dewals@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs