Course Title: Building Urban Resilience

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Building Urban Resilience

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ARCH1440

City Campus

Postgraduate

320H Architecture & Urban Design

Internet

Spring2016

Flexible Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ARCH1440

City Campus

Postgraduate

320H Architecture & Urban Design

Internet

PGRDFlex17 (ZZZZ)

ARCH1440

City Campus

Postgraduate

320H Architecture & Urban Design

Internet

PGRDFx2019 (ZZZZ)

ARCH1440

City Campus

Postgraduate

320H Architecture & Urban Design

Internet

PGRDFx2020 (ZZZZ)

Course Coordinator: Pamela Cajilig and Robyn Mansfield

Course Coordinator Phone: Online

Course Coordinator Email: pamela.cajilig@rmit.edu.au and robyn.mansfield@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Online

Course Coordinator Availability: by appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

In this course you will explore concepts and strategies for building and achieving resilience to disasters and climate change in cities for the safety of present and future urban populations.  In particular, you will investigate the link between urban poverty and disaster vulnerability and how addressing that link is the foundation of building urban resilience.
You will engage with practical case studies to investigate how cities achieve goals for building urban resilience and face the challenges in complex urban systems and multi-hazard environments. You will analyse existing tools that aim to support urban resilience, and assess the premises and approaches used. You will also examine key international urban resilience strategic frameworks including those of UN-Habitat, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCRN) and United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

 

Upon Successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Analyse and evaluate processes of risk assessment, capacity assessment and decision making to include urban resilience concepts and goals.
  • Critically review urban resilience models, approaches, actions and projects
  • Identify and discuss challenges for building urban resilience  in multi-hazard environments.    
  • Develop Urban Resilience Strategies in urban design, planning and development strategies.
  • Monitor and gather feedback on  urban development processes to evaluate urban resilience achievements.

 


Upon Successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Analyse and evaluate processes of risk assessment, capacity assessment and decision making to include urban resilience concepts and goals.
  • Critically review urban resilience models, approaches, actions and projects
  • Identify and discuss challenges for building urban resilience  in multi-hazard environments.    
  • Develop Urban Resilience Strategies in urban design, planning and development strategies.
  • Monitor and gather feedback on  urban development processes to evaluate urban resilience achievements.

 


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be engaged in learning that involves a range of activities, such as: discussions, readings, and independent research. Learning how to analyse and comment on your own and others’ work will be achieved through individual online presentations, reviews, reviews and group discussions.

This course is offered in on line mode only.

 


Overview of Learning Resources

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your instructor, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.  The University Library has extensive resources for students.  The library has produced a subject guide that includes quality on line and print resources for your studies.


Overview of Assessment

 You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Assessment may include presentations, projects and may be done individually and in teams. Collaboration between students is encouraged.

Assignment 1 - Resilience Assessment Plan - individual 50%

 

Students will select and justify a recognised model/strategy for assessing the resilience of an urban community and then use the model/strategy to assess and analyse the resilience of that community.

This assignment meets the following Learning Outcomes

 

  • Analyse and evaluate processes of risk assessment, capacity assessment and decision making to include urban resilience concepts and goals.
  • Critically review urban resilience models, approaches, actions and projects.
  • Identify and discuss challenges for building urban resilience in multi-hazard environments.
  • Monitor and gather feedback of urban development processes to evaluate urban resilience achievements.

 

 

Assignment 2 – Resilience Action Plan –  50%   

 

Students will work in pairs to develop a framework for a Resilience Action Plan and apply the framework to data provided on one nominated urban community and conclude by recommending and justifying strategies that can enrich the resilience of that community.

 

This assignment meets the following Learning Outcomes

  • Analyse and evaluate processes of risk assessment, capacity assessment and decision making to include urban resilience concepts and goals.
  • Critically review urban resilience models, approaches, actions and projects.
  • Identify and discuss challenges for building urban resilience in multi-hazard environments.
  • Monitor and gather feedback of urban development processes to evaluate urban resilience achievements.

 

Students will work in pairs to develop a framework for a Resilience Action Plan and apply the framework to data provided on one nominated urban community and conclude by recommending and justifying strategies that can enrich the resilience of that community.

This assignment meets the following Learning Outcomes

  • Analyse and evaluate processes of risk assessment, capacity assessment and decision making to include urban resilience concepts and goals.
  • Critically review urban resilience models, approaches, actions and projects.
  • Identify and discuss challenges for building urban resilience in multi-hazard environments.
  • Monitor and gather feedback of urban development processes to evaluate urban resilience achievements.
  • Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.
  • If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.
  • Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online: http://www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic#assessment