page in update, program and itinerary subject to possible changes …
Multi-Risks in Fez:
an urbanization that grows between the
Rif and the Middle Atlas Mountains.
30 of April 2027
(see poster)
Description
This field trip explores the relationships between natural hazards, geomorphological processes and urban development of Fez city and its surrounding territories. Located in the Saïss Basin, between the Rif/Pre-Rif mountain front to the north and the Middle Atlas to the south, Fez provides a relevant setting for examining flood hazards, slope instability, seismic context and the changing exposure of urban areas.
The visit will examine how the city’s historical structure and contemporary expansion interact with drainage systems, slopes and hazard-prone areas. It will also consider how field observation, risk mapping and territorial planning can support the identification of vulnerable areas and the development of risk-reduction measures.
Objectives
- Understand the physical and geomorphological setting of Fez and its surrounding areas;
- Identify the main natural hazards and consider their spatial distribution;
- Examine the relationship between urban expansion, exposure and natural hazards;
- Observe slope-instability processes and flood pathways in selected locations;
- Discuss risk-reduction measures and the role of risk-sensitive territorial planning.
Itinerary
08:00 Meeting Point, University campus.
08:30 Departure (transport by bus or similar).
Morning (09:00 – 13:00):
Stop 1. The Marinid Tombs: Reading of the landscapes and urban structures of Fez
Focus: Urban geography • Historical development • Territorial organization
A panoramic overview of Fez, focusing on the relationship between the historic Medina (Fez el-Bali), Fez el-Jdid and the modern city (Ville Nouvelle). This stop introduces the city’s historical expansion, contrasting urban forms and the geographical context in which natural hazards affect different parts of the metropolitan area.
Stop 2. Southern Fez and the Pre-Rif margins: Mass-Movement Hazards and Slope Instability
Focus: Geomorphology • Landslides • Urban exposure to morphodynamic risks
Examination of the relationship between the Pre-Rif foothills, slope characteristics, geological formations and urban development in southern Fez. The stop will focus on conditions favouring slope instability and mass movements, their potential impacts on infrastructure and settlements, and the implications for land-use planning.
Stop 3. The EuroMed–Marjane Sector: Urban Expansion and Territorial Exposure
Focus: Urban growth • Land-use change • Risk exposure
Observation of urban and peri-urban development around the EuroMed–Marjane sector, focusing on the expansion of built-up areas, infrastructure and changes in land use. This stop provides an opportunity to discuss how urban growth modifies runoff conditions, increases the exposure of people and assets, and creates new challenges for risk-sensitive territorial planning.
Stop 4. Flood Risk in Fez: Runoff from the Middle Atlas and Urban Drainage
Focus: Hydrology • Flood hazards • Risk mitigation
Analysis of flood-generating processes and drainage systems affecting Fez, with attention to runoff originating from surrounding uplands, including the Middle Atlas sector where hydrologically relevant. The stop will examine the interaction between catchment characteristics, urban drainage, flood pathways and exposed urban areas, as well as the role of flood-protection infrastructure and watershed management.
Lunch (13:00 – 14:30)
Afternoon (14:30 – 17:00):
Stop 5. The Historic Medina of Fez: Urban Heritage and Multi-Risk Vulnerability.
Focus: Historic urban fabric • Flooding • Building vulnerability
A walking visit through the historic Medina to examine how dense urban fabric, traditional buildings, narrow streets and the local drainage network influence vulnerability to natural hazards. The discussion will address the challenges of protecting people and cultural heritage while integrating risk prevention, conservation and urban management.
18:00 Arrival (University Campus)
Proposed Schedule
| Time | ………… ……………. ……………… ……………. ………….. …………. Activity ………… ……………. ……………… ……………. ……………. ……….. |
| 07:00 | Meeting point at the university campus |
| 08:00–09:00 | Transfer to Fez |
| 09:00–09:45 | Stop 1 – Marinid Tombs |
| 10:00–10:45 | Stop 2 – Southern Fez / Pre-Rif |
| 11:00–11:45 | Stop 3 – EuroMed–Marjane sector |
| 12:00–13:00 | Stop 4 – Flood-risk observation site |
| 13:00–14:30 | Lunch |
| 14:30–16:30 | Stop 5 – Walking visit to the historic Medina |
| 16:30–18:00 | Return to the university campus |
Target audience:
Students, teachers of Geography, Physics and Chemistry, Biology and Geology and researchers in the areas of social and environmental sciences, civil protection professionals and civil society.
Coordinators
Abdelgahni Houari, UPF, Fez, Morocco
El-fengour Mohammed, UM5, Rabat, Morocco
Language
The information will be in english and there will be no translation.
Price
40,00 (forty euros), till 31 of December 2026
50,00 (fifty euros), from 1 January 2027 till 31 of March 2027
60,00 (sixty euros), from 1 of April 2027
Price includes:
A seat on the bus or similar, a copy of the guide book (if produced) and lunch (packable lunches or in a restaurant), to be provided by the organization.