2024 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Undergraduate major in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
Introduction to Natural Disaster Science and Engineering
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Hiroshi Takagi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Mon
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- TSE.A316
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This lecture presents an overview of mechanisms of natural disasters, focusing on earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones, and storm surges, which could particularly bring about significant impact on society among many types of disasters. The lecture also discusses disaster risk and vulnerability associated with a rapid urban development and population increase. Finally, basic scientific technique such as statistical analysis, data analysis and numerical modeling are taught in order to enable students to quantitatively deal with phenomenon during disasters.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to understand:
1) Basic mechanisms of disasters
2) Causality between disasters and development issues
3) Basic engineering knowledge to quantitatively deal with disasters
Keywords
Earthquake, Tsunami, Tropical Cyclone, Storm Surge, Urban Development, Disaster Risk and Vulnerability, Disaster Statistics, Data Analysis, Numerical Modeling
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Students are given questions and exercise problems related to the lecture.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Earthquake, Tsunami | Mechanisms of disasters |
| Class 2 | Tsunami | Mechanisms of disasters |
| Class 3 | Climate, Tropical Cyclone, Storm Surge | Mechanisms of disasters |
| Class 4 | Disaster Statistics and Data Analysis (1) | Numerical Modeling |
| Class 5 | Disaster Statistics and Data Analysis (2) | Multiple Regression Analysis / Extreme Value Analysis |
| Class 6 | Disaster Statistics and Data Analysis (3) | Fourier Analysis / Waveform analysis |
| Class 7 | Development, Disaster Risk, and Vulnerability | Case Study |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
A mandatory textbook is not designated.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
A handout will be given at each class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
achievement /understanding report 100%
Related courses
- TSE.M204 ： Statistics and Data Analysis
- TSE.M201 ： Ordinary Differential Equations and Physical Phenomena
- TSE.M203 ： Theory of Linear System
- TSE.A205 ： Fluid Engineering
- GEG.I501 ： Coastal Disaster Mitigation for Engineers and Planners
- TSE.A352 ： Transdisciplinary Engineering Experiment B
Prerequisites
None