3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

<p> This course will briefly examine what risks recent POLICY actions pose to the environmental, economic and social infrastructure of the US and global community – especially the less developed nations – from the standpoint of climate-related natural disasters [floods, droughts, tsunamis, landslides, hurricanes, typhoons, monsoons, storm surges, forest fires, etc], and what technologies and technical options can be enlisted to mitigate the adverse [and some positive] effects associated with global warming. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p> This course will focus on a few technical mitigation [e.g. geo-engineering] options, but will focus mainly on practical adaptation options and strategies related to contemporary [and future innovative] infrastructure solutions and existing ‘best management practices’ for coastal erosion, storm preparedness, flood/drought management and preservation of ecological systems. Real case studies, based on recent disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina [New Orleans] and Superstorm Sandy [New York metropolitan region], as well as international examples from the Great Lakes, Columbia R. basin, Rio Grande basin, Mekong River basin, small island states, and both European and African case studies will be used to highlight each of the major engineering-based adaptation strategies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>