| GEOL-1640/2640 | GEOHAZARDS | Fall, 2002 |
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Instructor: Dr. Michael Ramsey
Office: SRCC, room 501
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1. Objective: To understand the geological and natural processes that affect the human environment in catastrophic ways. Geohazards are commonly magnified as a result of human activity that modifies the surrounding environment, thus interfering with natural geologic processes. These are examined in terms of science, prediction, mitigation, avoidance and the policy/safety issues that are involved.
2. Required Text: "GEOHAZARDS, NATURAL AND HUMAN" by N.K. Coch. Prentice-Hall, Inc., First Edition, 1995.
3. Lecture Times: Tu, Th from 2:30pm - 3:50pm in Langley A224. Attendance is strongly encouraged at all scheduled class meetings. Much of the exam material will be derived from my class notes and video presentations, therefore attendance is beneficial to your grade. In addition, I will be away on research travel for several weeks of the semester (see schedule). Guest lecturers as well as two make-up Saturday lectures will be required.
4. Course Requirements:
The goal of this course is not to make you memorize an endless stream of facts
that you'll quickly forget after taking the final exam. Rather, this should be a fun and interactive
experience. Knowing the basic fundamentals and learning to think objectively will give you a framework
to appreciate the landscape around you and understand the natural processes that impact our lives.
Exams:
There will be one mid-term and one final examination (non-cumulative). Each exam will be multiple-
choice, but may also include short essay questions and/or quantitative problem solving. Exam
questions will be based on material covered in the lectures, videos and assigned reading. Make-up
exams will only be given in extreme circumstances! Please try and make the two exams.
Project:
There will be a group research project that will involve an in-depth analysis of a geologic or
atmospheric hazard in the world today. Each group will be responsible for reporting the following
information for their particular hazard: (1) the geographic setting (population centers, land use,
transportation routes, etc.) (2) previous hazardous activity and impacts on the population (3)
current scientific research and the monitoring/mitigation efforts and (4) the current public policy
and safety issues. Each student will prepare a specific part of the written report for these
projects and a team leader for each group will present the entire project to the class using a
PowerPoint-style presentation. More specific information regarding the project will be distributed
at a later date.
5. Grading: Your final grade will be based on your performance on the 2 exams, the class project, and in- class participation. The grade will be calculated using the following break-down: Mid-term Exam = 30%, Final Exam = 30%, Class Project = 30%, Class Participation = 10%. If a curve is needed, it will be based on the final averages of the class and therefore not decided until the end of the semester. I curve based on the average of the entire class, making the median score equal to a C+/B- and adjusting everyone's grade accordingly. Please don't ask me what the curve was after each exam!
6. Web Site: The site is located at http://ivis.eps.pitt.edu/courses/hazards/ and will contain the syllabus, announcements and assignments for the class. I tend to continually revise the class schedule as the semester progresses, so please check there for the most current class information.
7. Cheating: While I hate to bring up this subject, it is a reality. I have a zero tolerance level when it comes to cheating on tests or plagiarizing on the project! The material is simply not that difficult. If you are caught cheating on the exam or project, you will be asked to leave the exam and receive a 0 for that test or for your portion of the project. This would be a loss of at least 30% of your grade and therefore severely hinder your chances of passing the class! Please don't try to figure out ways to get around this cheating policy. Rather, spend your time studying!
8. Other Links:
