Reducing Disaster Risks in Historic Urban Areas

India is experiencing one of the fastest rates of planned and unplanned urbanization, which is increasing the vulnerability of historic urban areas to natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones and fires, thereby putting people, properties, infrastructure, economy as well as cultural heritage at greater risk than ever before. Climate Change is further exacaberating their exposure to hydrometeorological hazards such as floods and cyclones as exemplified during recent Chennai floods. Therefore it is important to undertake measures to reduce risks to historic urban areas at policy, planning, management and structural levels.

Considering these issues and challenges, the primary objectives of the course are to understand the significance and vulnerabilities of historic cities especially those that are located in risk prone areas, to introduce key principles and approaches for urban disaster risk management,to undertake integrated risk assessment of urban areas with special focus on historic cities and to learn about various measures for pre-disaster risk reduction/mitigation, emergency response and post disaster recovery in historic urban areas.

Course will introduce the principles and key terminology on disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, strategies for mitigating urban disaster risks due to floods & cyclones, earthquakes and landslides, fires and stampedes, especially in holy places. Special considerations will be given on an integrated approach for risk assessment drawing on lessons from the past and the process of formulating disaster risk management plans including the planning for Post Disaster Recovery in Historic Urban Areas and ways of integrating them with larger Urban Planning, Development and Institutional framework. Recent international initiatives related to urban disaster risk reduction through Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR Resilient City Campaign, UNFCCC COP22, Habitat III and Sustainable Development Goals will also be the focus of discussion during the course.

Course participants will learn these topics through lectures and hands-on experiments. Through field visit and case studies, participants will be exposed to a methodology for integrated risk assessment of historic urban areas and develop disaster scenarios and undertake prioritisation of risk mitigation strategies, prepare and respond to emergencies, especially through Emergency Simulation Exercise. Case studies and assignments will be shared to stimulate research motivation of the participants.

Target Audience

• Architects, archeologists, town planners, urban designers, engineers and researchers from various governments, non-governmental and private organizations engaged in historic preservation, urban and environmental planning & development, heritage and conservation planning & management.
• Student at all levels (B.Arch/BTech/MSc/MTech/PhD) or Faculty from reputed academic institutions and technical institutions. 

Fees

The participation fees for taking the course is as follows:

Participants from abroad : $ 300

Industry/ Research Organizations: 10000 rupees

Academic Institutions: 5000 rupees

Bonafide students of Academic Institutions: 1000 rupees (to be refunded after completion of course)

The above fees include all instructional materials, computer use for tutorials and assignments, laboratory equipment usage charges, 24 hr. free internet facility. The participants will be provided with accommodation on payment basis.