Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

Maastricht Graduate School of Governance

Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

Full course description

This course serves as a general introductory course to the Risk and Vulnerability Specialisation. Students will be introduced to key concepts, frameworks and empirical methods to assess risk and vulnerability in the context of climate change and natural hazards. A major part of the course is dedicated to introducing students to GIS-based (Geographical Information Systems) methods for vulnerability and risk mapping through hands-on GIS-based workshops using geospatial data.

Course objectives

  • Comprehend and interpret key definitions and conceptual frameworks related to risk and vulnerability and its assessment,
  • conduct GIS-based data analysis
  • Analyse hazardous and vulnerable situations using both GIS techniques and conceptual frameworks
  • Connect vulnerability and risk assessment to policy developments and international agreements
  • Prepare a GIS- based risk map for individual case studies
  • Complete a well-structured report with proper references and critical analysis

Prerequisites

None

Recommended reading

  • Course reader
RSK4105
Period 4
3 Feb 2025
28 Feb 2025
Print course description
ECTS credits: 
4.0
Instruction language: 
English
Coordinators:
Teaching methods: 
Lecture(s), Presentation(s), Assignment(s), Work in subgroups
Assessment methods: 
Final paper
Keywords: 
Disaster risk assessment and mapping; key concepts, theories and frameworks related to disaster risks, vulnerability and resilience; multi-scale vulnerability and risk assessment at different levels; climate change and the global development agenda, geoprocessing for risk mapping and analysis