Disaster Risk Management
- Curriculum Development
Our Strengths
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Expertise in the School of Earth & Atmospheric
Sciences [Depts. of Geology, Applied Geology &
Geography]
About 17 Schools consist of 68 Science and Arts
Departments provide amble opportunity to
introduce DRM course apart from expertise
available
Scientific data on tsunami hazards and earthquake
risk / prediction studies
Center for Natural Hazards & Disaster Studies
[CNHDS] funded by MHRD, GOI
Organizational Set Up
School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences (SEAS)
Dept of Geology
Petrology
Mineralogy
Exploration Geophysics
Structural Geology
Stratigraphy
Paleontology
Dept of Applied Geology
Environmental Geochemistry
Groundwater exploration
and management
Coastal zone management
Tsunami impact studies
Earthquake prediction
Dept of Geography
Atmospheric studies
Human geography
Environmental impact
assessment (EIA)
Medical geography
Remote Sensing & GIS
Centre for Natural Hazards and Disaster Studies (CNHDS)
Department Profile
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The Department of Applied Geology was established in the
University of Madras in 1952 and has been functioning in the Guindy
Campus, A.C.College Buildings, Chennai, India.
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During the last five decades, the Department has made significant
contributions in teaching, academic and research.
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The Department has the facilities and infrastructure for carrying out
geochemical, geohydrological, geophysical, oceanographic,
paleooceanographic, paleoclimatic, geomorphological and coastal
environmental investigations.
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The Geological Museum of the Department is a treasure house with a
good collection of rocks, minerals, fossils and crystal models, and has
been visited by several schools in Chennai.
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The Department library has to its credit more than 500 books on various
disciplines of Earth Science.
Vision and Mission of the Department
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Making the students community to expertise in the field of
Earth Sciences.
Upgrading the research activities, new innovations and
empowering the knowledge.
Undertaking more inter-disciplinary research to produce
end user beneficial outputs and enhance research skills of
young scholars.
Collaboration with various national and international
institutions in the field of Applied Geology (teaching and
research).
COURSES OFFERED
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M.Sc. Applied Geology
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M.Phil. Applied Geology (1-yr, 2-Semester, Credit based
(2-yr ,4-semester , Credit
based programme) – Total
intake of students – 20
Programme) – Total intake of
students – 6
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Add on Diploma course
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Ph.D. Applied Geology and Interdisciplinary
on Groundwater Exploration and
Management – (3 months)
(Full – Time and Part –Time)
Elective courses offered
For parent Department: 6
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EAS (E301) Geostatistics & Computer Applications in Geology
EAS (E302) Introduction to Oceanography
EAS (E303) Integrated Coastal Zone Management
EAS (E304) Environmental Geosciences
EAS (E305) Nuclear Geology
EAS (E306) Rainwater Harvesting
To other Departments: 10
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EAS (E308) Geophysics
EAS (E310) Basic Hydrogeology
EAS (C308) Remote sensing and GIS Fundamental & Applications
EAS (E306) Rainwater Harvesting
EAS (E315) Environmental Geosciences
EAS (E316) Nuclear Geology
EAS (E313) Nuances of Scientific writing
EAS (309) Introduction to Oceanography
EAS (E311) Basics of Remote sensing & GIS Techniques
EAS (E307) Environmental Earth Science
LABORATORY FACILITIES
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Geochemical Laboratory equipped with AAS with Graphite Furnace, UVVIS Spectrophotometer, Nephelometer etc.
Geophysical Laboratory equipped with Worden’s Gravimeter, Two-Channel
Seismic Timer, Magnetic Susceptibility Meter, etc.
Tsunami Modeling & Coastal Studies Laboratory equipped with high end
workstation and relevant software (MATLAB, Arc-View, ERDAS, etc.)
Geohyrological Laboratory equipped with Water Level Indicator
Micropaleontological Laboratory equipped with Binocular Stereo Zoom
Microscopes, Microphotography Kit, etc.
Remote Sensing and GIS Laboratory equipped with Stereozoom
Transferoscope, Pocket Mirror Stereoscopes, Remote Sensing Data Products,
FCC Imagery
Sedimentalogical Studies: Sieve shaker, Heavy mineral separation using
Heavy liquids.
Computer Laboratory equipped with high end computers and a server with
internet connectivity along with scanners and printers.
ONGOING Ph.D. RESEARCH
27%
73%
Interdisciplinary
Applied Geology
MU – KU – METU (Proposed Plan)
2007
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Capacity Building Activities
1. Basic courses for graduate students
2. Short-term course for practitioners
3. Training for the trainers
4. International training workshops
5. Web-based courses
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- Finalized
- to be planned
- to be planned
- to be initiated
-?
Collaborative Research Project - ?
Presented on December 13, 2006 – ISDR Meeting
NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS
RISK MANAGEMENT
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Core Course Objective: To provide in-depth
knowledge on the interdisciplinary nature of natural
hazards, the evolution of theories and thoughts in
natural hazards, the geophysical causes of natural
hazards, human and environmental impacts, and
response to natural disasters, and issues, mitigation and
recovery and challenges in developing countries.
4 Credits
45 hrs Lecturing
Guest lecturing / Video / Field visits
Unit 1 Introduction:
 General introduction to natural hazards and disasters – physical
and geodynamic characteristics of earthquakes, tsunamis &
storm surges, tropical cyclones, monsoonal floods, landslides,
droughts & wildfires – worldwide trends in natural catastrophes
and occurrence.
Unit 2 Impact & Linkages:
 Impact of natural hazards on development prospects – threat of
sea level changes on the global coast – global climate change &
global environmental change – impact on natural resources,
environment - social impact of disasters – gender, food security,
poverty and case studies.
Unit 3 Assessment:
 Hazard-prone areas identification – application of remote
sensing and GIS tools – hazard mapping – risk modeling, risk
zonation and case studies.
Unit 4: Preparedness:
 Risk reduction concept – pre and post disaster comparison and
analysis – understanding the disaster cycle – stakeholders’
participation and preparation comprehensive management plans
–community-based disaster risk management – participatory risk
assessment – coastal regulations, coastal management in tsunami
reconstruction, national and international scenarios.
Unit 5: Mitigation & Recovery:
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The inter-relationship between mitigation and
recovery - process for developing hazards
mitigation plan, implementation of
comprehensive mitigation strategies – disaster
recovery planning – disaster emergency
preparedness and on recovery and
reconstruction - early warning systems.
NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS RISK
MANAGEMENT (Elective)
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Elective Course Objective: To provide more of
interdisciplinary knowledge on natural hazards, human
and environmental impacts, and response to natural
disasters, and issues, mitigation and recovery and
challenges in developing countries. This course is designed
for the Postgraduate students of Geology, Geography,
Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Management
Studies, Economics, Education etc.
3 Credits
35 hrs Lecturing
Guest lecturing / Video / Field visits
Unit 1 Introduction & Impact:
 General introduction to natural hazards and disasters –
worldwide trends in natural catastrophe occurrence. Impact of
natural hazards on development prospects – threat of sea level
changes on the global coast – threats to coastal biodiversity,
environment, food security and poverty – urban land use
planning and coastal zone management challenges.
Unit 2 Linkages & Assessment:
 Linkages between natural hazards risk and natural resource
management – social effects of disaster and environmental
impact of disasters – application of remote sensing and GIS
tools – hazard mapping – risk modeling - risk zonation – damage
and loss assessment.
Unit 3 Preparedness:
 Risk reduction concept – pre and post disaster comparison and
analysis – understanding the disaster cycle, stakeholders’
participation and community-based disaster risk management –
participatory risk assessment – institutional aspects of disaster
risk management (national/state/local).
Unit 4 Mitigation & Recovery:
 The process for developing hazards mitigation plan implementation of comprehensive mitigation strategies –
disaster recovery planning - early warning systems - risk finance
and risk transfer mechanisms - disaster emergency preparedness
and on recovery and reconstruction – case studies.
MU – KU – METU
(immediate tasks)
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Preparation of proposals for short-term courses
& training for trainers [March]
2 ST courses for practitioners/Stakeholders [20
practitioners] in May – June
1 TFT [at Kyoto University]
[5 Trainers from UoM]
MU – KU – METU (tasks)
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International training workshop [May 2008]
5 participants from METU region [WBI/ISDR funding]
15 participants from India [self supported]
15 participants from SA countries [facilitate funding
from APN, IHDP, etc.]
5 participants from developed countries
MU will host and provide University guesthouse,
training hall, field visits & preparation training materials
MU – KU – METU (tasks)
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Joint collaborative research project 2007-09
Preparation of first draft – February 07
Final draft and submission – April 07
Opportunities
Students / young scholars exchange visits
Fellowship for young scholars leading to Ph.D.
MU – KU – METU (tasks)
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Post-graduate diploma course in the University
curriculum [2008-09] – self supported
Web-based courses [2008-09] – WBI/ISDR
2 end user workshops / brainstorming sessions
[2009] – WBI/ISDR