Program Overview

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SEISMIC HAZARD AND RISK

Program Details

• CODE: 94639
• ACADEMIC YEAR: 2025/2026
• CREDITS: 5 cfu anno 1 ENGINEERING FOR NATURAL RISK MANAGEMENT 11921 (LM-26 R) - SAVONA
• SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR: GEO/10
• LANGUAGE: English
• TEACHING LOCATION: SAVONA
• SEMESTER: 2° Semester
• MODULES: This teaching is a module of GEOHAZARDS
• TEACHING MATERIALS: AULAWEB

OVERVIEW

The module will consist of 45 hours of lessons dealing with topics related to seismic risk. The aim is to provide basic skills of seismic hazard, local seismic response, seismic microzonation, seismic monitoring, and post-earthquake emergency management.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module is designed to provide the fundamental principles of seismic hazard and risk. Basic concepts of seismology and seismometry will be discussed before focusing on deterministic and probabilistic seismic hazard analysis. Subsequently, methods for ground response analysis will be presented in order to provide general knowledge on site effects (e.g., ground motion amplification, seismic slope stability, soil liquefaction). Finally, the basics of seismic microzonation and building codes will be discussed.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the module is to train the student on the theme of seismic risk. The goal is to create a figure with skills in:

• seismology
• seismic hazard
• site response
• risk mitigation

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of lectures delivered through multimedia presentations. Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School's contact person for disability at the beginning of teaching to agree on possible teaching arrangements that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Basics of seismology:
  • Earthquakes and seismicity
  • Earthquake source
  • Seismic waves and wave propagation
  • Earthquake location
  • Magnitude and seismic intensity
• Seismic hazard:
  • Ground-motion parameters
  • Deterministic and probabilistic seismic hazard analysis
  • Hazard disaggregation
• Site effects:
  • Ground-motion amplification (1D, 2D, 3D site effects)
  • Co- and post-seismic effects: earthquake-induced landslides, soil liquefaction
• Risk mitigation:
  • Building codes
  • Seismic microzonation
  • Seismic monitoring and earthquake early warning systems
• Basics of seismic risk assessment

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Teaching material will be provided during the lessons (all lectures will be stored on Aulaweb)
• S.L. Kramer, Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Prentice Hall.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

• Teacher: Simone Barani
• Exam Board:
  • Simone Barani (President)
  • Egidio Armadillo
  • Andrea Cevasco
  • Gabriele Ferretti
  • Daniele Spallarossa
  • Giacomo Pepe (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The start of lessons is indicated on the course schedule available through the university's portal.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available on the university's EasyAcademy portal.

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final exam consists of an oral test (3 questions on topics covered during the lessons). The exam is passed if the student has obtained a grade greater than or equal to 18. A question will be discounted if the student passes a mid-season exam focusing on topics related to basics of seismology.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam will focus on the topics covered during the lessons and will aim to assess the achievement of the appropriate level of knowledge. The ability to present the topics clearly and with correct terminology will also be evaluated. The degree of detail required for each topic will be provided during lessons.

Exam schedule

The exam schedule is as follows:

• 07/01/2026, 10:00, SAVONA
• 10/02/2026, 10:00, SAVONA
• 04/06/2026, 10:00, SAVONA
• 18/06/2026, 10:00, SAVONA
• 03/07/2026, 10:00, SAVONA
• 28/07/2026, 10:00, SAVONA
• 04/09/2026, 10:00, SAVONA

FURTHER INFORMATION

Regular attendance at lectures and laboratory exercises is strongly recommended.

Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Development Goals

• Quality education
• Sustainable cities and communities