Study

Certificate course in

Disaster Risk Management and Environmental Assessment for Spatial Planning

Owing to increased vulnerability and extreme events (including both natural and human-induced hazards), we are faced with the rapidly growing impact of disasters worldwide. There is an urgent need to include the concept of disaster risk management in planning, sustainable development and environmental assessment. Strategic environmental assessment is a process for evaluating the environmental consequences of proposed policy, plan or programme initiatives to ensure they are included and addressed at the earliest possible stage of decision making. The course provides a unique opportunity to integrate a multidisciplinary assessment of risk into strategic planning processes. It brings together a set of powerful tools and techniques to provide timely and objective information on our living environment, and in doing so provides sound information as a basis for planning and policy decisions.

For whom is the course relevant?

This course is designed for all those who are involved in development planning (including environmental and risk assessment) at all levels of society and who need to acquire procedural knowledge and skills in risk assessment, risk management and planning to carry out their work. These include professionals working in governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as planners, engineers, architects, geographers, environmental specialists and university teachers.

What will be achieved?

The course provides knowledge and skills applicable to multi-hazard risk assessment and strategic environmental assessment within a clear context of spatial planning routines. At the end of the course, the two concepts are brought together in a realistic case study that deals with a practical situation involving either environmental or human-induced (industrial) hazards. It pays close attention to the use of relevant tools and techniques such as satellite imagery, dynamic modelling and scenario development within a GIS environment.

What is the course content?

The course consists of two components, each of three weeks’ duration:

Component 1: Spatial data for disaster risk management

• Risk management framework; the concepts of hazard assessment; elements-at-risk mapping; vulnerability assessment; risk assessment
• Spatial data requirements for risk assessment 
• Users and providers of risk information; spatial data infrastructure for risk management 
• Cadastral data as input for exposure analysis
• Probabilistic methods for risk assessment 
• Hands-on examples of international methods for loss estimation, such as HAZUS and CAPRA 
• Cost-benefit analysis for disaster risk reduction measures 
• Use of risk information in disaster preparedness, early warning and spatial planning

Component 2: Environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment

• Basis steps, procedures and activities; environmental assessment methods; application of GIS and multicriteria evaluation techniques
• Incorporation of hazard and risk; process and steps in natural hazard impact assessment; hazard and vulnerability assessment; mitigation and adaptation
• One-week project dealing with planning in the Netherlands related to the impact of climate change and the increasing risk of flooding (including a visit to several organizations and an excursion through the Netherlands)
• Final project dealing with all the steps involved in developing an environmental impact or strategic environmental assessment.

Why choose this course?

This course enables you to acquire a sound knowledge of risk assessment, risk management and planning in an integrated manner. The course is based on a course book with assignments, and an exercise book with GIS exercises. The general approach of the course is task-based learning that blends theory and practice. Considerable emphasis is placed on the application of the theoretical basis, through an excursion, guest lectures, visits to planning organizations, and the final project.

Admission requirements

Academic level and background

Applicants for the Certificate programme should have a Bachelor degree or equivalent from a recognised university in a discipline related to the course, preferably combined with working experience in a relevant field.

Some courses in the Certificate programme or separate modules require knowledge of, and skills in, working with GIS and/or digital image processing of remotely sensed data.

Skills in taught or related subjects are a prerequisite for some courses in the Certificate programme or separate modules. Even if the applicant satisfies the overall admission requirements, acceptance is not automatic.

English language

As all courses are given in English, proficiency in the English language is a prerequisite. If you are a national of one of the countries in this list (PDF), you are exempted from an English language test. Please note: the requirements when applying for fellowships may vary according to the regulations of the fellowship provider.

English language tests: minimum requirements

Only internationally recognised test results are accepted.

Computer skills

Applicants lacking computer experience are strongly advised to follow basic courses in their home countries.