Monday, August 31st, 2009
Video Conference Held on ‘Fundamentals of Structural Dynamics’
Dr. Yuji Ishiyama is seen on a screen in Pakistan, live from Tokyo August 17, 2009. Photo courtesy of NWFP University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar/TDLC
South Asia has been hit by powerful earthquakes since ancient times. In recent years, Pakistan has been struck by strong earthquakes which have killed and injured hundreds and left thousands homeless.
The video lecture by Dr. Yuji Ishiyama, professor emeritus of Hokkaido University and the National University of Engineering, Peru, had initially been proposed by NWFP University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar (UET Peshawar) for technical officials of the Pakistan government, its engineers, and graduate students. Seeing broad interest in the region, the conference was opened to Pakistan’s neighbors – Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal—to prompt knowledge-sharing and exchange on a wider scale. The goal was to reach out to both academicians and practitioners in disaster preparedness.
Supported by the International Recovery Platform (IRP) which disseminates knowledge on recovery from natural disaster, the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) organized the video lecture as part of an Earthquake Risk Reduction and Recovery Preparedness Programme (ERRP) for the South Asian Region, to share knowledge on structural assessment for earthquake-safe building.
Video lecture participants in Pakistan August 17, 2009. Photo courtesy of NWFP University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar/TDLC
Connection tests with local sites were arranged by TDLC coordinators and completed days in advance. And on August 17, participants assembled at their sites, and the video lecture was underway.
Video lecture participants in Pakistan August 17, 2009. Photo courtesy of NWFP University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar/TDLC
Sohel Khan, United Nations Development Programme Regional Coordinator in Kathmandu, took charge from Nepal as overall moderator of the three-hour session. Each country venue also had ready its own local moderator and a designated note-taker with technical knowledge on the subject, in order to make the best use of the video lecture.
The lecturer of this vide lecture Dr. Ishiyama, specializes in structural engineering, earthquake engineering and building construction, and has been researcher for Japan’s Ministry of Construction.
Video lecture participants in Pakistan August 17, 2009. Photo courtesy of NWFP University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar/TDLC
An active session of questions and discussion followed the lecture, as both academics and field practitioners continued to show their strong enthusiasm throughout the duration of the lecture.
“It was a very useful lecture considering the project (ERRP) that we are currently implementing in five South Asian countries,” says lecture moderator Mr. Khan.
“The lecture helped our participants to enhance their knowledge on topics which can be applied for earthquake-safe construction practice at the country level. Participants commented that the lecture highlighted a key issue which was essential to understand critical aspects of earthquake-safe building.”
Comments have been received that the participating government engineers, university faculty, PhD fellows, and project team had greatly benefited from the video lecture. “Japan has a very high level of expertise on Disaster Risk Reduction, particularly on earthquake, landslide, and cyclones,” says Khan. “A series of lectures on hazard and risk assessment, safe construction practices, building codes, community preparedness and contingency, etc…...would be highly beneficial for disaster management practitioners and academics from South Asian countries.”
The success of this event has been encouraging for the IRP (International Recovery Platform) and TDLC, who are in discussion over the establishment of technical courses to benefit academics and practitioners in Asia. Further joint efforts are being planned to involve more Japanese experts in a structured manner, such as cooperation with universities.
