ID:
SCV0571
Duration (hours):
48
CFU:
6
SSD:
GEOLOGIA STRUTTURALE
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (23/02/2026 - 29/05/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course will provide knowledge on the seismic cycle phases and on seismic risk assessment. The evaluation of the probability of earthquake occurrence and of the vulnerability of the physical and built environment will be discussed. General principles and practices adopted during the emergency phase in the aftermath of an event, and in civil protection planning will be addressed as well. Expected outcomes At the end of the course, the student will have learned the key concepts on earthquake geology and seismic risk, and will be able to apply and communicate them in a multidisciplinary environment. Knowledges: - Understand the basic processes of active tectonics and seismic cycle and of civil protection activities in the emergency phase - Understand a civil protection plan and information deriving from different disciplines (geology, engineering, civil planning) Ability to apply the knowledge: - Understand and comment scientific literature and technical documents written in English - Evaluate different approaches, identifying relative advantages and criticalities. - Integrate multidisciplinary information and, if not complete or not in agreement, critically evaluate them. Communication skills: - Synthetize relevant information and to communicate to professionals - Write a technical report on one of the course topics, either theorical or a related to a case history.
Course Prerequisites
No preparatory obligations are required. The student must have basic knowledge of mathematics, geology and statistics. Basic knowledge of English language is required.
Teaching Methods
Frontal class lecture, for a total of 48 hours. Case histories will be analyzed, either from scientific literature or technical documentation. Exercises and practical examples will be presented as well. A written report is requested as well.
Assessment Methods
Verification of learning will be through an oral final exam. Either theorical knowledge and real case studies or scenarios will be part of the examination. A written report, dealing with an in-depth analysis of one of the topics addressed during the course, is required as well. The report has to be delivered at least 1 week before the oral exam. The final vote is based on the oral exam (80%) and the written report (20%, 2/3 of which for the contents and 1/3 for formal requirements). The final mark is given based on quality and completeness of answers, ability to use technical language, ability to elaborate a critical reasoning in an autonomous way. If required, compensatory tools and/or dispensatory measures will be guaranteed, upon verification of the personalized education plan compiled by institutional offices.
Contents
The main topics addressed during the course include: - Course introduction, social and economic impact of natural processes. The Earth system and involved scientific disciplines. Definitions: seismogenic source, fault, active fault (4 hours). - Earthquakes: physical process and seismic cycle; wave equation, seismograms, PGA, PGV; measurement of the energy release and instrumental networks (2 hours). - Slip rates and recurrence models; episodic and clustered behaviour; fault interaction and seismic sequences; source models; empirical laws on seismicity rates (Gutenberg-Richter, Omori, Bath laws) (4 hours). - Macroseismology: intensity scales, how to realize a macroseismological investigation; attenuation relations intensity-distance, deriving source parameters (examples from the Italian Apennines); analysis of national databases (DBMI), limits and uncertainties of the intensity evaluation (4 hours). - How to investigate pre-instrumental earthquakes: historical seismicity, archeoseismology, paleoseismology. Study case: archeo and paleoseismology in the Como urban area (2 hours). - Surface faulting: influencing factors, empirical laws; setback distance and probabilistic fault displacement hazard assessment; examples from recent earthquakes (4 hours). - Earthquake-induced effects. Landslides: classification and type of landslides, factor of safety, index properties, hazard assessment (Newmark and empirical methods), earthquake-triggered landslide inventories. Liquefaction: predisposing and triggering factors, empirical laws with distance, hazard assessment and mitigation measures. Tsunamis and hydrogeological effects: wave propagation, tsunami monitoring and early warning; amplification and resonance frequency (6 hours). - Seismic hazard assessment: deterministic and probabilistic approaches; Cornell’s method; pros and cons; Italian seismic classification and building codes (4 hours). - From hazard to risk; disaster risk reduction: criteria for siting high risk plants; investigation scales and data collection; methods to estimate hazard, vulnerability, exposed asset; fragility curves for buildings; optimal level of mitigation. Deterministic scenario: example form Salt Lake City; cascade events; disaster management: phases of prevention, preparedness, mitigation, emergency, response, recovery; the insurance system (4 hours). - Civil protection: history, national regulations; structure and duties; case study: relevant earthquake; global examples. Civil protection plans: land planning measures, alert levels, operational phases. Case studies: Alta Valle del Calore, Vesuvio, Brescia (4 hours). - Seismic microzonation: principles and practice; the 3 microzonation levels: investigations and technical/map products. Case study: Arquata del Tronto (2 hours). - Case histories: Italian seismicity since 1980 to date; selected cases on a global scale; earthquakes in volcanic areas; induced earthquakes: mechanisms, monitoring, case study Oklahoma, Pohang (S. Korea). The sismabonus measure (8 hours).
Course Language
Italian
More information
I am available to meet the students upon request, please send me an email.
Degrees
Degrees
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WORKPLACE SUSTAINIBILITY ENGINEERING
Master’s Degree
2 years
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