Actions on structures and infrastructures in a changing climate concentrates on methods to estimate climate related loads for structures and infrastructures. I am teaching 36 hours of the course, including lectures given by the teacher and exercises developed by collaborative work by students and the teacher. The purpose of the course is to learn methods for engineering design in the presence of a changing climate, that induces non-stationarity in the dynamic processes determining forcings over structures and infrastructures. In detail, non-stationary data-based models and deterministic transient models for the simulation of climatic and weather extremes will be considered, with a specific focus on the coastal areas where about 40% of humans live.
The course is multidisciplinary and directed to a wide audience with the aim to expand beyond engineering with an innovative vision. The approach is both narrative and quantitative, with some reference to mathematical modelling.
The first lectures will focus on emerging research trends on load estimation in the presence of climate change. We will then focus on extreme value theory, stochastic and deterministic simulation with a example-driven approach. We will refer to relevant case studies. Reference will be made to the most recent innovation and modelling solutions, with an interdisciplinary perspective. Dialogue with the students will be an essential ingredient of the teaching method.
On-line lectures
The course adheres to the Unibo experimentation of innovative teaching and learning. As such, some of the lectures will be delivered online, with an innovative use of teaching tools. The calendar of online lectures will be presented later on. Video recordings of the lectures will be made available on YouTube and Virtuale soon after the lectures.
Lectures will be delivered in physical presence and online, in any case with video streaming.
Interactive learning
The course promotes teaching methods based on the active participation by students by using innovative technologies and social media. A fundamental role is played by the interaction between students and teachers. The idea is to integrate the traditional one-way flow of knowledge from teacher to student with a feedback flow from student to teacher and a cross flow among students. The target is achieved by assigning an active role to the student during his/her education. Innovative teaching methods may include:
- Short presentations by students;
- Groups Question&Answers sessions "Challenge the teacher";
- Self evaluation by students;
- Interim check of students' opinion on the course.
Tutorial documents
The tutorials for the course will be delivered in the form of open web pages, open media and freely accessible videos of all the lectures, for the sake of developing academic education through fully open information. Tutorial web pages for the lectures (please note: links highlighted in red were not presented in lectures and therefore will not be tested at the exam):
- Introduction and research directions
- Case study: wind speed in a coastal region
- Extreme value theory
- Lectures to be added later
The above lectures will be linked in the web page of the course in Virtuale, that is accessible with student's credentials. Please contact the teacher if you do not have access to this page. The virtual classroom is accessible by clicking here.
Experiential learning
Experiential learning is a process of learning by doing, where knowledge is gained through hands-on experience and reflection. It connects classroom concepts to real world applications, making students active participants to bridge theory and practice.
Links to experiential learning exercises will be added later on.
Calendar of the lectures
All the lectures will be delivered by Alberto and will take place at the rooms of Ex-Asili, via Tombesi dell'Ova, Ravenna. The calendar of the lectures is given here below. Please note that changes in schedule and room may occur (in particular, lectures in May may be anticipated). Any change will be communicated by the teacher to the students one week earlier at the latest.
- February 18, 3 hours, 14-17, Aula Disegno;
- February 25, 3 hours, 14-17, Aula Disegno;
- March 4, 3 hours, 14-17, Aula Disegno;
- March 11, 5 hours, 11-17, Aula Disegno;
- March 18, 3 hours, 14-17, Aula Disegno;
- March 25, 3 hours, 14-17, Aula Disegno;
- April 1, 3 hours, 14-17, Aula Disegno;
- April 22, 3 hours, 14-17, Aula Disegno;
- April 29, 3 hours, 14-17, Aula Disegno;
- May 20, 3 hours, 14-17, Aula Disegno;
- May 27, 3 hours, 14-18, Aula Disegno.
Exam
Learning outcome will be assessed through a online quiz plus a short oral examination. The quiz will count 30 questions both with close answer and textual answer. Questions may include some simple computations to be completed with a pocket calculator or pc/tablet. There is no penalty for wrong answers and the quiz will have a duration of 30 minutes. The oral will be short. The exam is in physical presence, with no exception unless those that are admitted by the university rules (documented and seriuos health issues or others, see here). The oral aims to assess the ability of the student to deliver a clear and well articulated presentation (this question could be addressed with an interactive activity).
Questions in the quiz and oral examination are related to the topics that are taught during the lectures and are explained in the supporting documents. The teacher may ask questions not directly related to what has been discussed during the lecture in order to assess outstanding capabilities of the student to integrate the notions delivered by the teacher. The highest score (30/30) is reserved to students who demonstrate a full knowledge of the notions, a very good ability to address questions through an efficient synthesis, and a very good presentation. The laude is reserved to students who demonstrate exceptional motivation and integrate the course content with additional notions by following their personal interest and attitude. Exam dates will be fixed in agreement with the students at the beginning of the course. Exam will take place in Ravenna or Bologna, in room to be defined.
Contact details of the teacher and individual clarifications
The teacher is available to provide clarifications on request, by receiving individual students or groups. Teacher can be contacted by email to fix appointments.
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