The world's population is expected to increase to over 9 billion by 2050. More than 60% of the total population of the world lives in coastal areas. Coastal disaster or environmental risks are expected to increase with this population growth and the economic development particularly in developing countries. Coastal disasters due to events such as tsunamis, storm surges, and high waves lead to considerable loss of human lives and properties. The threats from these disasters will be exacerbated because of the impacts of climate change. This course presents a coherent overview of coastal disaster science, risk management and engineering. The final 2 classes will be devoted to presentations and discussions by students to let them further consider complex physical and social mechanisms which could lead to catastrophic disasters.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand basic science and engineering for natural disasters
2) Understand complex backgrounds of disasters or environmental issues exacerbated by urban or economic development
3) Develop a global awareness of sustainable development
Coastal disaster, disaster mitigation, international development, coast, ocean
✔ Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Towards the end of class, students are given exercise problems related to the lecture given that day to solve. To prepare for class, students should read the course schedule section and check what topics will be covered. Required learning should be completed outside of the classroom for preparation and review purposes.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Introduction | Urban development and disaster |
Class 2 | Ocean & Coastal sciences | Theories of ocean tide and wind waves |
Class 3 | Natural disaster science | Theories of tropical cyclone, earthquake, and climate change |
Class 4 | Coastal disasters | Storm surge, tsunami, erosion, sea-level rise |
Class 5 | Engineering and management for coastal disaster mitigation | Coastal structure, coastal management |
Class 6 | Vulnerability to disasters in developing countries | Disaster in the context of economic development, population, and environmental issues |
Class 7 | Economic and tourism development and disaster risks -presentation and discussion | Economic and tourism development and disaster risks |
Class 8 | Worsening of disaster impacts and disaster risk management | Disaster impacts and disaster risk management |
Not designated
1. Esteban M., Takagi H., Shibayama T. Handbook of Coastal Disaster Mitigation for Engineers and Planners, Elsevier, ISBN : 9780128010600
2. Thao N.D., Takagi H., Esteban M. Coastal Disasters and Climate Change in Vietnam, Engineering and Planning Perspectives, Elsevier, ISBN : 9780128000076
Presentation&discussion 50%, report / exercise problems 50%.
Not required