Basic Concept of

Hazard
 Learning Objectives
Students should be able to:
1. Describe how hazard affects risk
2. Distinguish hazard from the other components of disaster risk;
3. Distinguish natural hazards from the other types of hazard;
4. Explain the difference in characteristics of small and large hazard events;
and
5. Determine the steps in hazard assessment
 What is a Hazard?
Hazards – the potentials for damage to man and his
environment that may result from the occurrence of
natural events such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
floods, and storm surges.
 Types of Hazard
Geologic Hydrologic Atmospheric Biologic Man-Made

Earthquakes Floods-river and Typhoons Epidemic in Transport

coastal humans accidents
Tsunami

Volcanic eruption Wave action thunderstorms Epidemic in plants Industrial

explosion and fire

Rainfall-induced Drought Drought; excessive Epidemic in Accidental release

landslides rainfall animals of toxic chemicals

Sinkholes Blizzards Locusts Nuclear

 Characteristics of Hazard
Key Hazard Parameters
 magnitude
 intensity
 speed of onset
 duration
 Magnitude
“What is the strength?”
A measure of its strength and is an indication of how destructive it can be.

How to measure?
• Richter Magnitude Scale – measures the amount of seismic energy
released in an earthquake, energy released by an earthquake is calculated
from the amplitude of waves on a seismogram, which indicates how much
the ground has shaken.
 Intensity
“How much is the damage?”
The degree of quantity describing the severity of an earthquake in terms of its
effects on the earth’s surface and on humans and their structures.

How to measure?
Mercalli Scale and the Rossi-Forel Scale measures the impact of
earthquakes on the ground, people, buildings.
 Speed of onset
“How fast does this occur upon initial detection?”

An idea wherein how predictable a hazard is and how much

lead time is allowed by it. The more predictable an event is,
the lesser the chance of incurring casualties and damages.
 Duration
“How long does it occur?”
The chance of experiencing severe damage will depend on
how long the hazard affects an area. The larger the aerial
extent or scope of an event is, the greater the potential for
damage will be.
 Probability of Occurrence
How often an event occurs (ex. Every month, year, 10 years, etc. ) is its
frequency. Probability of occurrence determines the timing of a hazard.

Ex. If a flood has a return period of 1 year then the probability of the flood
occurring within a year is 100%
 Hazard Identification,
Assessment, and Mapping
 Hazard Assessment

The process of estimating, for defined areas, the

probabilities of the occurrence of potentially damaging
phenomenon of given magnitude within a specified period
of time
 Approaches
 Quantitative approach
 Qualitative approach
 Probabilistic approach
 Deterministic approach
 Quantitative approach
Mathematical functions or equations relating the hazard variables used are
formulated or adopted to quantify the hazard.

Data from past historical records and from those derived from the basic
science principles are used to come up with the relationship between the
variables considered.
 Qualitative approach
This method uses expert opinion in ranking in relative terms, the
intensity or probability of occurrence of a hazard event. This
method is preferred especially when data is not enough to come up
with a quantitative evaluation or when it is not possible to express
numerically one or more variables
 Probabilistic approach

It provides an objective estimate of the probability of each hazard affecting an

area or region by considering past record of events
 Deterministic approach
A more subjective approach of estimating probability.
A past event of a given intensity or magnitude is selected and the consequences
at certain intensities are described.
 Hazard Mapping

The process of identifying the spatial variation of hazard events or physical

conditions (ex., potential ground shaking, steep slopes, flood plains, and
hazardous materials sites).
 Natural Hazards Mapping Methods

• Use of various field techniques (compasses or GPS)

• Air photographs
• Scientific investigation involving experts from various fields