Learning Site Selections through Field Investigations for Enhancing Resilience to Climate Challenges

Conference: The IAFOR Conference on Educational Research & Innovation (ERI2022)
Title: Learning Site Selections through Field Investigations for Enhancing Resilience to Climate Challenges
Stream: Experiential Learning
Presentation Type: Live-Stream Presentation
Authors:
Ping Xu, University of Colorado, Boulder, United States

Abstract:

This paper presents a course on design with climate in an undergraduate environmental design program. This course teaches site analysis through field investigations on high-impact areas, combining geomorphic knowledge with vernacular experiences on debris flow, wildfires, and postfire debris flow. Particularly, this course guided students to discuss the factors causing postfire debris flows and the human responsibilities in such natural hazards. Students in their final papers state that they were attracted by mountainous beauty before this class but were not aware of the potential dangers. They also thought the postfire debris events happened accidentally and may not happen again. This interdisciplinary course with experiential learning helps students understand the dangerous nature of postfire debris flow and its inevitability in specific landforms of the debris catchment, the flow track, and the impact area. The catastrophes in high-impact zones demonstrate site selection failures. Therefore, avoiding rebuilding in high-impact areas is an effective strategy to enhance mountain community resilience to the extreme climate. The students have presented eagerness and curiosity during field observations at the high-impact areas of the 2013 debris flow. This first-hand knowledge enhances students' understanding of larger-scale considerations crucial in site selection to avoid natural hazards. For undergraduate students, the field investigation is an efficient way to learn site selections to enhance natural hazards' resilience.



Conference Comments & Feedback

Place a comment using your LinkedIn profile

Comments

Share on activity feed

Powered by WP LinkPress


Share this Presentation