Topic outline

  • Introduction

    Course Summary: 

    The course Urban Hazard and Risk Management aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the nature, causes, risks, and impacts of urban hazards, and how these can be managed and mitigated. The course is relevant in the context of rapid urbanization and the increasing exposure of urban populations to various types of hazards.  The rationale for the course is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify, assess, and manage hazards and risks in urban areas. Furthermore, the course also aims to provide students with an understanding of the institutional frameworks and policy interventions necessary for effective hazard and risk management in urban areas and enable them to contribute to building more resilient and sustainable urban communities.

    The course includes:  Basic concept of hazard and disaster; Disaster management cycle; Characteristics, structure, mitigation measures and building construction consideration for different hazards such as tropical cyclone, tornado, flood, earthquake, fire etc.; Disaster risk assessment; Institutional setup for disaster management in Bangladesh. 


    Course Information: 
    • Course Name: Urban Hazard and Risk Management 
    • Course Code: URP-302
    • Credit: 3
    • Program: Bachelor of Real Estate

  • Topic 1: Basic Understanding of Hazard and Disaster

    This topic includes: Difference between hazard and disaster, Concept of Vulnerability (Exposure, Sensitivity, and Adaptive Capacity), Disaster Management, Components of Disaster Management Cycle

  • Topic 2: Tropical Cyclone and Tornado

    This topic includes: Tropical cyclone (General characteristics, Global distribution, Structure , Cyclone formation and dissipation, Cyclone naming, Cyclones in Bangladesh), Tornado (General characteristics, Formation, Prediction and warning), Disaster risk reduction measures for cyclone and tornado, Cyclone shelter design consideration (Sustainable use, Number, capacity and location of cyclone shelter, Building design standard, and other facilities), Building construction consideration for cyclone prone area (choosing site, building shape, building pattern, roof design, doors and windows) 

  • Topic 3: Flood

    This topic includes: What is flood, Causes and consequences of flood, Types of flood (riverine/ monsoon flood, flash flood, coastal flood, local/urban flood), Measures to reduce flood damage, Flood proofing measures (elevation, floodwalls, dry floodproofing, wet floodproofing)

  • Topic 4: Earthquake

    This topic includes: What is  Earthquake, Earth layers, and tectonic plates, Formation of earthquakes, Types of fault, Seismic waves, Body waves, and Surface waves, Measuring earthquakes, Magnitude of earthquakes, Effects of earthquakes, Earthquake safety measures, Earthquake resilient buildings ( Flexible foundation, Counter forces with damping,  Shielding building, reinforcement, Earthquake resilient material) 

  • Topic 5: Fire Hazard

    This topic includes: What is fire hazard, Natural causes of fire, Man-made causes of fire, Types of fire (Class A, B, C, D, K), Fire extinguisher types, How to use an extinguisher, Fire resistant building materials, Fire protection system in Building (fire alarm, smoke detector, fire extinguisher, fire sprinkler, fire hydrant and hose system, hypoxic air fire prevention, fire escape, escape chute, fire exit design standards)