At the end of the course, you (i.e. the participating student) will be able to:
- Explain why (urban) resilience is relevant to the civil engineering domain;
- Explain and select concepts and frameworks to understand and assess (urban) climate resilience;
- Explain and select methods for modelling, simulating and visualizing (infrastructure) systems, interdependencies and cascading effects;
- Explain and select methods to assess how climate change affects different societal groups and civil engineering stakeholders;
- Explain, select and evaluate measures and policies to improve (urban) resilience;
- Apply selected concepts, approaches and methods to concrete case studies;
- Review, summarize and critically reflect upon scientific literature and what you learned about urban resilience.
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Urban areas are characterized by high population density as well as clustering of capital and infrastructure networks. These characteristics make them vulnerable to shocks and stressors, including extreme weather events. Considering the impacts of climate change and other technological and societal developments, there is an urgent need for cities to become more resilient. A resilient urban system is able to sustain key functions when disruptions occur. The civil engineering domain – that is occupied with the design, construction and management of the physical environment including natural and artificial infrastructure – plays a key role in maintaining and strengthening urban resilience.
In the course, a team of lecturers will introduce you into different elements of urban resilience in a changing climate: What is (urban) resilience about? How to assess resilience? How does climate change affect people? How to model and simulate resilience? How to involve stakeholders? How to improve resilience?
Assessment is based on two types of assignments. One type of assignment is to prepare a portfolio in which you proof that you became an expert in the topic of urban resilience. The core of the portfolio is formed by summaries of lectures and reading materials that you select yourself that you select yourself. The other type of assignments are done in small groups and provide you with the opportunity to apply some of the things you learned. During the assignments, specific attention is paid to skills that you need when writing your MSc thesis research, such as, academic writing and referencing, selecting relevant literature and formulating a relevant research problem. Tutorials and Q&A moments are organized to support you with these assignments
This course will provide you with a broad understanding of urban resilience in general as well as a deeper understanding of elements that you select yourself. In addition, you will strengthen your academic skills so that you are better prepared for writing an MSc thesis proposal.
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