Renzo Rosso – författare

The most powerful earthquake in 40 years occurred on 26th December 2004 off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The tsunami it generated turned into one of the worst known natural disasters when walls of water crashed across the Indian Ocean, causing waves to reach Somalia in Africa. The death toll, mainly in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, exceeded 200,000. Nine months later, hurricane Katrina devastated the southern coast of USA along the Gulf coast. Winds reached 281 kilometers per hour and the storm surge of over nine meters was the highest recorded in the United States. It brought destruction to New Orleans when portions of the 563 kilometers of levees surrounding the city were suddenly breached. Nearly 1700 people died and damages are currently estimated at $100 billion, the costliest natural disaster in the United States. Within days hurricane Rita, another maximum category hurricane, struck the same coastal region damaging Texas and other states, followed soon aft- wards by hurricane Wilma. Then on October 8th 2005 an earthquake in Kashmir, part of northern Pakistan and India, killed 75,000 inhabitants when innumerable buildings collapsed. Simultaneously, hurricane Stan led to costly landslides and more than 2000 deaths in Central America. To highlight the major catastrophes of nature during the previous decade, Cyclone Gorky and its storm surge caused 139,000 deaths in coastal Bangladesh during 1991.

Flood control in urban areas can be feasibly and cost-effectively enhanced by implementing flood proofing approaches to risk reduction in the context of environmental and land-use planning and management. Indeed, flood proofing makes it possible to improve, integrate and in some cases even replace traditional measures for flood control, reducing the vulnerability and increasing the resilience of buildings and infrastructures.This book begins by reviewing the physics of stability and instability of both human beings and buildings under flood conditions, together with criteria and models (both conventional and innovative) for assessing flood strains. In turn, it presents a range of flood proofing concepts and techniques, together with a complete and updated classification of related methods and devices. This provides a user-friendly tool to help identify appropriate solutions to real-world problems for each specific risk scenario.In particular, the book focuses ontemporary flood proofing techniques, given their ability to deliver effective performance at low costs. Lastly, it features an overview of norms, guidelines and laboratory recommendations that are currently being adopted in various countries with regard to flood proofing devices and testing procedures.The purpose of this book is essentially to encourage authorities, stakeholders, technicians and end users to successfully develop flood proofing solutions that can reduce flood risk in a pragmatic manner. In addition, the authors hope to inspire researchers, manufacturers and designers (engineers, architects, urban planners and urban managers) to pursue further advances in this key sector of public and private safety in urban areas.

Instead of following the Magna Charta Universitatum, the declaration of the principles of knowledge signed in 1988 in Bologna, the academic approach pursued in Europe and the other continents over the past 30 years has strictly employed a utilitarian model of higher education.

Instead of following the Magna Charta Universitatum, the declaration of the principles of knowledge signed in 1988 in Bologna, the academic approach pursued in Europe and the other continents over the past 30 years has strictly employed a utilitarian model of higher education.

Water is the essential substance for life on Earth. The natural patrimony of all living beings and the material and cultural heritage, a common good, a shared resource, a treasure trove of humanity. The nature of water, water at rest and in motion, the water cycle and its management are addressed here in a multidimensional, comprehensive and transdisciplinary approach.The book focuses on water without complying with any disciplinary approach: philosophical, historical, physical and mathematical issues are merged with traditional hydrochemistry, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics and hydrology to provide an overview of basic knowledge on Earth’s water. These five lectures can be delivered to any undergraduate STEM student to introduce them a valuable, basic, multidisciplinary knowledge on water. Non-specialists will find here an insight of water made as simple as possible, but not simpler than required