Dealing with natural and technological risks

The Grenoble region is especially exposed to various types of natural and technological risks such as earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, floods, and the presence of major civil engineering works. “A risk is the probability that a hazard will occur in a particularly vulnerable situation”, explains Frédéric Dufour, Professor at Grenoble INP – Ense3 and Senior Director of the 3SR laboratory (Soils, Solids, Structures, Risks). The prevention of natural risks, which are inherently uncontrollable, will primarily involve minimising the potential consequences of their occurrence on people and property by constructing civil engineering structures which reduce the likelihood of their occurrence while unfortunately increasing their consequences in the event of failure.