Wednesday, November 22nd, 2006
Tokyo International Workshop 2006 on Earthquake Disaster Mitigation for Safer Housing
Experts in Earthquake Prone Asian Countries Exchange Information on Joint Research Project
Research institutions in Japan, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Turkey joined forces on November 22-23, 2006 connecting to each other from the TDLC for the “Tokyo International Workshop 2006 on Earthquake Disaster Mitigation for Safer Housing”.
Organized by Japan’s Building Research Institute (BRI), National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED), National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) and Mie University of Japan, the Plenary Meeting held on the first day connected BRI in Tsukuba, Jakarta, Bandung, Banda Aceh, Kathmandu, Islamabad and Istanbul, allowing more than 140 participants from 5 countries to take part. The session was webcast live, and an archived version is available for view here
Mitigation of earthquake disasters is a vital issue for earthquake-prone areas in Asia. The 4 organizers in Japan have launched a new research and development project entitled “Collaborative Research and Development Project for Disaster Mitigation on Network of Research Institutes in Earthquake Prone Areas in Asia” in cooperation with research institutions in Asia such as the Bandung Institute of Technology, National Society for Earthquake Technology –Nepal, Pakistan’s Preston University and Istanbul Technical University. This Workshop successfully incorporated videoconferencing to strengthen this network, allowing experts to share their knowledge and experience and provide input on the Project.
The Project focuses on 3 main research topics, which are “Risk management system – contrivance for seismic risk recognition by communities”, “Feasible and affordable seismic constructions” and “Dissemination of technologies to communities”. At the Plenary Session, Mr. Tatsuo Narafu, Senior Coordinator for International Cooperation, Building Research Institute, gave an overview of the Project, and Facilitators for each topic, Dr.Toshiaki Yokoi, Chief Research Scientist, BRI, Dr.Toshikazu Hanazato, Professor, Mie University and Dr.Kenji Okazaki, Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) gave a brief introduction.
From Japan, presentations were given on Lessons and Challenges from Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake as well as on Disaster Reduction Hyperbase – Asian Application Project. Reports on Community-based Disaster Mitigation by UNCRD, Challenges for Delivering Technologies to Communities in Aceh Reconstruction Project and Community-based Approach for Safer Adobe Houses in Peru were given to encourage further discussion.
On the second day, Group Discussions focusing on Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkey and Peru respectively were conducted as 2 hour sessions, connecting each country with Tokyo to promote detailed discussions on specific needs.
