5223 (v.5) Geography 218 - Natural Hazards and Environmental Planning

Area:

Department of Social Sciences

Credits:

25.0

Contact Hours:

5.0

Lecture:

2 x 1 Hours Weekly

Laboratory:

1 x 2 Hours Weekly

Fieldwork:

1 x 1 Hours Weekly

Anti Requisite(s):

5228 (v.5) Geography 318 - Natural Hazards and Environmental Planning

Prerequisite(s):

1436 (v.4) Geography 111 - Natural Hazards - Geography of the Global Distribution, Causes and Impacts of Natural Hazards and Strategies Used to Minimise Risks or any previous version
AND
1437 (v.4) Geography 112 - Global Change - Demography, Economic Development, Environment, Urbanisation and Social Inequality or any previous version

Syllabus:

A select number of climatic, geomorphic, geologic and technological hazards are examined. Environmental, economic and social impacts are considered in addition to spatial and temporal patterns and magnitude and frequency of hazards. Development of publicpolicy, environmental planning, hazard prediction and other strategies to minimise risk.

Unit Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit students will have - An appreciation of the spatial and temporal dimensions of a range of environmental hazards and their causal factors and a general understanding of the environmental, economic, social and political implications of environmental hazards. An appreciation of environmental management/planning, principles of sustainable land use and developments in applied research in geography with particular reference to the management of environmental hazards. Developed an in depth understanding of selected climatic, geomorphic, geologic and technological hazards. Improved skills in note taking, report writing and oral presentation and well as map interpretation and data collection and analysis. Participated in field days and enhanced a range of skills, including simple observation and recording skills relevant to landscape analysis and terrain evaluation.

Texts and references listed below are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Some units taught offshore are modified at selected locations. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information and approved offshore variations to unit information before finalising study and textbook purchases.

Unit References:

Alexander D (1993) Natural Disasters, UCL Press, London, 632pp. Bryant, E.A (1991) Natural Hazards, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne, 294pp. Chapman, D. (1994) Natural Hazards, 2nd ed, Oxford University Press. Dolan, C. (1994) Hazard Geography, 2nd ed, Addison Wesley Publ. Ebert, D.H.V. (1997) Dangerous Earth - An introduction to Geologic Hazards, John Wiley. Whittow, J.B. (1980) Disasters: The Anatomy of Environmental Hazards, Pelican Brooks. Whittow, J.B (1984) The Penguin Dictionary of Physical Geography. Penguin.

Unit Texts:

Abbott, P.L (1999) Natural Disasters, Second Edition, WCB/McGraw Hill. Smith, K. (2001) Environmental Hazards - Assessing Risk and Reducing Disasters, 3rd ed, Routledge, London , New York.

Unit Assessment Breakdown:

Assignment 25%, Final Test 40%, Mid Semester test 30%, Written summaries 5%. This is a Grade/Mark assessment.

Field of Education:

10799 Earth Sciences not elsewhere classified

HECS Band (if applicable):

Extent to which this unit or thesis utilises online information:

Informational

Result Type:

Grade/Mark

Availability

Availability Information has not been provided by the respective School or Area. Prospective students should contact the School or Area listed above for further information.

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