Certificate course in

Spatial Data for Disaster Risk Management

Why choose this course?

This course shows you how spatial data is used in advanced methods for risk assessment, including techniques for probabilistic risk assessment, the end users of such information and the Spatial Data Infrastructure required. The course also gives the risk management framework and introduces you how spatial risk information is used in disaster risk management, integration of risk information with other relevant information into disaster risk management and environmental impact assessment, define how risk analysis results are used, by whom, in what way; and translate the results into an integrated planning/policy level.

What is the course content?

In this course, you learn how risk information can be used in Disaster Risk Management. Firstly is concentrated on the use of advanced probabilistic models for multi-hazard risk assessment. Also is concentrated on how existing information coming from cadastral databases and census information can be used in risk analysis:

• Risk Management framework, including risk analysis, evaluation, perception and governance.
• Users and providers of Risk Information. An analysis is given of the end users of risk information, their requirements, and the organizations that are involved in generating information for a risk assessment.
• Spatial data Infrastructure for Risk Management.
• Land Administration and risk.
• Probabilistic methods for risk assessment, on uncertainties involved in risk assessment, and how these uncertainties are used in a probabilistic approach for risk assessment.
• Examples of International methods for loss estimation. In this component we will look at internationally developed software modules for risk assessment such as HAZUS (Multi-hazard risk methodology developed for the US by FEMA), CAPRA (Comprehensive Assessment of Probabilistic Risk developed by the World bank), and ARIPAR (Software for industrial risk assessment developed by JRC for the EU).
• The use of risk information for emergency preparedness, including a practical exercise dealing with a simulation case study for the use of spatial information in responding to a disaster event.
• The use of risk information in a cost-benefit analysis for the design of risk reduction measures.
• Use of risk information in spatial planning.

Career Perspectives

Disaster risk management leads you to create and use a systematical process of administrative decisions, organization, operational skills and capacities to implement policies, strategies and coping capacities of the society and communities to lessen the impacts of natural and related environmental and technological disasters.

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.