Department of Construction Management

College of Engineering

Florida International University

# SYLLABUS

## BCN 5589

**[HAZARD MITIGATION]{.underline}**

**Fall 2005**

**[COURSE INFORMATION]{.underline}**

**INSTRUCTOR : Ricardo A. Alvarez**

**PHONE / FAX : P**: \[305\] 433-4700, \[305\] 931-0871, \[305\]
332-3664

**F:** \[305\] 931-4704

**EMAIL : *<ricardoalfonso@myway.com> ***OR
[***Alvarez@fiu.edu***](mailto:Alvarez@fiu.edu)

**SCHEDULE :** Tuesday: 7:00 to 9:40 PM

**CLASSROOM : Pines Center BCP 134 and FEEDS**

**TEXBOOK :** None required. Reference materials, various handouts
pertinent to class discussions and a list of bibliographic materials may
be distributed or posted to the FEEDS or WebCT pages from time to time.

### [COURSE DESCRIPTION, OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES]{.underline}

*Last year we were "surprised" at the violence, persistence and purpose
with which the hurricane season impacted our state again and again.
During that season many were surprised to see their
"it-will-never-happen-here" communities impacted repeatedly by
hurricanes coming from all directions. Many were surprised that even
"minor" hurricanes with moderate winds could cause so much damage by
just dumping lots of rain or "just" flooding our communities.*

*This year's hurricane season appears to be a repeat, perhaps an
"enhanced" repeat of the 2004 season. The Florida Panhandle has been
impacted three times already. Hurricane Katrina, at one point a menacing
Category 5 tropical cyclone, is being called a catastrophic event that
had brought death and misery and tremendous destruction and losses to
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama after having caused death, damage and
loss of electrical power to millions of households and businesses in
four South Florida counties.*

*What about the December 2004 tsunami that caused untold damage and
catastrophic death to island nations and the mainland in Southeast Asia,
India and other countries, a natural event so powerful that it altered
the tilt of the Earth's axis?*

*And we could go on with similar stories of natural and human hazards
causing massive damage and countless disasters around the globe almost
on a routine basis.*

*In the aftermath of these disaster events we continuously wrestle with
the same questions and issues: (1) **Damage** becomes **repetitive** at
givne locations, (2) We continue to be **surprised** by the power of
nature, (3) We wonder why there wasn't more **advanced warning**, (4)
The **death toll** continues to climb in developing nations, (5) We
question whether our **building codes** are adequate or strong enough,
(6) Building design and construction professionals continue to state
**"we meet the building code"** as if this is the best we can do, (6)
Many refuse to think about implementing measures that could reduce
future damage claiming **"it costs too much"**, or by simply saying **"I
have insurance"**, (7)Many continue to look at the **government** as the
**only one responsible** for confronting these hazards, (8) Often a
pre-event study or research forecasting the impact and potential for
damage surfaces in an **"I told you so"** manner, (9) There are cries
for **"a need for education"** related to issues of vulnerability to
hazards and how to reduce their impact, (10) Nearly always there are
demands to identify **"who is responsible**", fingers are pointed,
**blame is assigned** or the disaster becomes a **political issue**,
etc. etc.*

*Within this context some question for all of us are: What do we, as
building design and construction professionals or professionals in other
fields, think about these issues and attitudes? More importantly what
can we do, if anything, to strengthen the houses, buildings and
structures we design and build so that our communities will suffer less
damage next time there is an impact from a hazard?*

*This course will assess and discuss the questions and issues mentioned
before while focusing on the fact is that Planet Earth, regions,
countries, states, local communities, facilities, buildings and all of
us as individuals are **vulnerable** to a wide range of natural and
human **hazards.** Regardless of their origin these hazards must be
considered as sources of potential **damage.** Often the impact of a
hazard on a community may result in a **disaster** as the damage it
causes surpasses the capability of the local resources to respond or to
repair and rebuild. While damage can range from the physical and
structural to the environmental and social, the most visible is usually
the destroyed buildings and houses, the disrupted infrastructure and the
overwhelming amount of debris and destruction generated by the impact.*

*A key objective of this course is to show that the building design and
construction professions have the capability, and opportunity, of
reducing such potential for damage through a process of **hazard
mitigation.** This course will introduce these critical concepts while
providing a forum for discussing how professionals in many fields can,
and should, make hazard mitigation an integral part of the daily
practice of their individual professions. This course will frame this
discourse within the context of **emergency management**, and it will
also provide a **common language** to facilitate effective discussion of
critical terms and topics. The course will introduce and analyze
methodology to assess the effectiveness of proposed hazard mitigation
measures, including a method for **benefit-cost analysis** of proposed
mitigation measures that can be used to choose between alternatives, and
for decision-making at various levels.*

*This course will discuss the **regulatory environment** and
**governmental structure** under which emergency management and hazard
mitigation are practiced in the United States at the various levels of
public administration.*

*Upon successfully completing this course students shall be able to:*

-   *Define and use the terminology that applies to critical concepts
    for the practice of hazard mitigation.*

-   *Know about, understand and be able to discuss the laws and
    regulations that support the regulatory environment for the practice
    of emergency management and hazard mitigation in the United States.*

-   *Assess the potential causes of damage to a building, structure or
    facility as a pre-requisite to identifying mitigation measures to
    reduce the potential for damage.*

-   *Evaluate the effectiveness of proposed hazard mitigation measures.*

-   *Use and apply methodology to quantify the benefit-cost of proposed
    hazard mitigation measures.*

-   *Understand and discuss the role that building design and
    construction professionals can and should play in reducing the
    potential for damage to the built-environment from the impact of
    natural and human hazards.*

-   *Understand and discuss both the limitations of building codes and
    the opportunity of practicing hazard mitigation through codes and
    standards.*

-   *Be familiar with the role research and technology play in advancing
    the practice of hazard mitigation.*

-   *Apply and use these concepts and methods in the daily practice of
    their jobs and professions.*

### **[COURSE OUTLINE]{.underline}**

***Class discussions and presentations will focus on the topics and
subject matter summarized below. These topics are summarized in the
intended sequence in which they will be introduced and discussed,
however this may vary due to a number of reasons. New material or topics
may be introduced at any time the instructor or the class believe these
would be relevant to this course; for example should a disaster event
take place during the Fall 2005 term it may provide a wealth of
empirical knowledge that should be introduced in class as a way of
reinforcing the theory and the concepts with a practical example. The
blocks of materials and discussion topics have been numbered
sequentially for ease of identification.***