Developing capacity for natural hazard management using an active learning approach and web-based geographical information

A learning environment for university students using active learning in the field of natural hazard management is described. Students study a suite of hazard case studies that include earthquake, flood, debris flow, rock fall, snow avalanche, and landslide within a virtual Alpine valley, which has been constructed using a web-based geographical information system. Through a series of tasks carried out in collaborative workshops, students create structure and meaning from heterogeneous and disparate data and information in order to define and solve relevant problems presented within a natural hazard scenario.