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Modern societies rely on a wide range of interconnected industrial infrastructures - petrochemical plants, chemical industries, transport networks, energy systems - whose activities generate significant technological risks during the production, storage, and transport of hazardous materials. Major accidents such as Deepwater Horizon (2010), Rouen (2019), and Beirut (2020) have shown how deficiencies in risk management can produce severe, long-lasting consequences for human health, ecosystems, and economies. Reducing these risks requires a solid understanding of accidental phenomena and of the combinations of events that can escalate into major disasters.
This open-access book provides an integrated and accessible overview of risk analysis methods and presents the scientific bases for understanding some of the most critical hazardous phenomena, including explosions, fires, and marine pollution. It also draws attention to emerging challenges, such as NaTech scenarios, the growing influence of climate change on industrial vulnerability, and the transformations brought by the energy transition illustrated by the rise of new fuels such as ammonia. By combining technical insights and broader systemic perspectives, the book encourages readers to anticipate evolving risks and contribute to more resilient, adaptive, and sustainable societies.
List of contents
1. Introduction: Understanding and Managing Industrial Hazards.- 2. Fundamentals of Risk Analysis Methods.- 3. Explosion.- 4. Understanding Industrial Fire Dynamics for Risk Management and Emergency Response.- 5. From Oil Spills to Chemical Accidents: Strengthening Marine Pollution Preparedness and Response.- 6. NaTech Hazards: the Case of Wildfire Events on Industrial Assets.- 7. Conclusion and Outlook.
About the author
Aurélia Bony
is a professor and researcher in risk and crisis management at IMT Mines Alès (France). Her early work focused on mitigating and modeling the atmospheric dispersion of toxic gases during emergencies. Today, her research focuses on resilience and crisis management with a particular emphasis on understanding, modeling, planning, and training for complex crises.
Ingrid Canovas
is a researcher at IMT Mines Alèsis and a geographer specializing in natural risk and crisis management. Her research, which initially focused on assessing and anticipating droughts, has evolved to encompass the broader development and operationalization of the concept of anticipation. In this context, she examines emerging risks associated with climate change, the potential impacts of natural hazards, and the consequences of decision-making in crises. Her goal is to enhance preparedness and management strategies to reduce the impacts of such events on populations and territories.
Laurent Aprin
holds a PhD in Fluid Mechanics and Heat and Mass Transfer and has been with IMT Mines Alès since 2005. Currently a professor, he conducts research and teaching focused on understanding and modeling fluid flows, with a particular emphasis on the characterization and simulation of chemical pollution and underwater gas discharges in both aquatic and atmospheric environments.
Summary
Modern societies rely on a wide range of interconnected industrial infrastructures - petrochemical plants, chemical industries, transport networks, energy systems - whose activities generate significant technological risks during the production, storage, and transport of hazardous materials. Major accidents such as Deepwater Horizon (2010), Rouen (2019), and Beirut (2020) have shown how deficiencies in risk management can produce severe, long-lasting consequences for human health, ecosystems, and economies. Reducing these risks requires a solid understanding of accidental phenomena and of the combinations of events that can escalate into major disasters.
This open-access book provides an integrated and accessible overview of risk analysis methods and presents the scientific bases for understanding some of the most critical hazardous phenomena, including explosions, fires, and marine pollution. It also draws attention to emerging challenges, such as NaTech scenarios, the growing influence of climate change on industrial vulnerability, and the transformations brought by the energy transition—illustrated by the rise of new fuels such as ammonia. By combining technical insights and broader systemic perspectives, the book encourages readers to anticipate evolving risks and contribute to more resilient, adaptive, and sustainable societies.
