Topic outline

  • Coastal Construction: Risk Analysis and Reduction

    Credits: 2 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    A successful building design incorporates elements of risk assessment, risk reduction, and risk management. A critical component of successful building construction in coastal environments is accurately assessing the risk from natural hazards and then reducing that risk as much as possible.
    Accurate risk assessment and risk reduction are directly tied to correctly identifying natural hazards relevant to the building site. Before beginning the design process, it is important to understand and identify the natural hazard risks associated with a particular site, determine the desired level of protection from those hazards, and determine how best to manage residual risk.

    Topics:

    • Assessing Risk
    • Identifying Hazards for Design Criteria
    • Probability of Hazard Occurrence and Potential Consequences
    • Reducing Risk
    • Reducing Risk through Design and Construction
    • Factors of Safety and Designing for Events that Exceed Design Minimums
    • Designing above Minimum Requirements
    • Preparing for Events That Exceed Design Events
    • Role of Freeboard in Coastal Construction
    • Managing Residual Risk through Insurance
    • Types of Hazard Insurance
    • National Flood Insurance Program
    • Self-Insuring
    • Savings, Premium, and Penalties
    • Communicating Risk to Clients
    • Misconceptions about the 100 Year Flood Event
    • Misconceptions about Levee Protection

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience: This course is intended for Construction, Civil, Coastal, Facilities, Land Planners, and other engineers whose job description may require a general knowledge of risk evaluation of coastal properties.
    Publication Source: US Federal Emergency Management Authority

    Donald Parnell, PE

    • Topic 1