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Methods of technical risk assessment in a regional context
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:13:04
Abstract
Comprehensive look into risk issues within the context of complex technological/human-environment systems at a regional level. The basic principals and methods for risk assessment and risk management are provided.
Objective
Becoming acquainted with risk issues of single major technical systems, potential interactions and/or superpositions, all in a regional context. Focus will be oh the role of potential accidents triggered by all kinds of technical and human failures, external impacts and malicious attacks. Imparting fundamentals and basic methods/models/data/tools for risk analysis as well as approaches for risk assessment in a relative (comparative) and absolute sense, discuss limits and uncertainties. Gaining experience in applying various methodical instruments and give answers to adequacy of risk reducing measures. Approach risk management as a task in an industrialized region containing fixed and mobile hazardous installations. Contributing to a case study.
Content
This course addresses risk issues within the context of complex technological/human - environment systems at a regional level and provides the basic principals and methods for risk assessment and risk management. The subjects taught include: Survey of technical risks, problem framing methods of hazard identification and analysis (e.g. HAZOP), accident sequence delineation and related frequencies and releases (e.g. Fault /Event trees, Petri Nets), human factors, source term estimation techniques Human and environmental impact assessment, mitigative measures, representation of results (e.g. CCDF) Principals and methods of risk assessment (e.g. comparative risk assessment, tolerability limits, cost-benefit trade-offs) Elements of risk management including emergency planning and preparedness principles Transportation of dangerous goods risk analysis including basic modeling techniques, use of GIS and advanced time-spatial modeling for risk assessment Integrating risk assessment and safety management at regional level including results of risks assessment for various sources/technical systems, advanced decision support systems
Resources
Lecture Notes
Lecture presentation slides will be made available.
Literature
- A. Gheorghe, M. Nicolet-Monier: Integrated Regional Risk Assessment, Vol. I and II Kluwer Academic, 1995 -Landolt-Börnstein: Numerical Data and Functional Relationships in Science and Technology, Volume 3 Subvolume B, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2005 - A. Gheorghe, D. Vamanu: Emergency Planning Knowledge, vdf, Zürich, 1998 - F. P. Lees: Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, Butterworth & Co Ltd, Norwich, 1996 - A. Gheorghe, J. Birchmeier, D. Vamanu, I. Papazoglu, W. Kröger: Comprehensive risk assessment for rail transportation of dangerous goods: a validated platform for decision support, Reliability Engineering and System Savety, Vol. 88, p 247-272, 2005
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- oral 30 minutes
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Methods of technical risk assessment in a regional context |
|
2 h weekly |