Workshop on Seismicity and Earthquake Engineering in the Extended Mediterranean Region

21-24 June 2010 at Ankara Plaza Hotel, Ankara, Turkey

• © UNESCO/ F. Brugman

This new workshop will feature a special “hands on” session on the Technical Methodology and Applications of the HAZUS-MH Earthquake Loss Estimation Model.

The workshop on Seismicity and Earthquake Engineering in the Extended Mediterranean Region will be hosted by the Middle East University at the Ankara Hotel Plaza, and sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

70 senior scientists from 26 countries and the Palestinian Authority, in the extended Mediterranean region will participate in the workshop that will be held 21 to 24 June 2010 at the Hotel Plaza in Ankara.

UNESCO and the USGS have been working with the Council of Europe, government agencies, and other organizations on a program for Reducing Earthquake Losses in the Extended Mediterranean Region (RELEMR). Twenty-nine RELEMR meetings have been held since the first meeting in Cairo in 1993 and during the last seven years workshops have been hosted by the Jordan Natural Resources Authority and Royal Scientific Society, the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute and the Middle East Technical University in Turkey, the Cyprus Geological Survey Department, the lnstitute of Earth Sciences 'Jaume Almera' in Spain, and the Technical University of Crete, Greece.

At these meetings, participants discussed regional approaches to improve seismic data (e.g., more accurate locations and improved magnitude estimates), probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA), engineering issues (e.g., reasons for building failures), and the production of a RELEMR seismicity map has also been discussed. Participants produced a ground shaking map of the Dead Sea region and training courses in PSHA, HAZUS, David Boore's Ground Shaking and other software have been given.

The last workshop featured special sessions on the Technical Methodology and Applications of the HAZUS-MH Earthquake Loss Estimation Model, the Protection of Historical Sites in the Extended Mediterranean Region and Open Source Software. Sessions for General Presentations in seismology, geology and earthquake engineering were also part on the agenda of this workshop.

This new workshop will feature a special “hands on” session on the Technical Methodology and Applications of the HAZUS-MH Earthquake Loss Estimation Model. This session will be held in the Laboratory of the Department of Civil Engineering of the Middle East Technical University (METU). Sessions for General Presentations in seismology, geology and earthquake engineering are also part of the agenda.

As it was foreseen, this workshop will contribute to the improvement of knowledge focalized in the reduction of earthquake losses; and will have an opportunity to contribute to the health and safety of the millions of people on the extended Mediterranean region.

Related links:
:: Logistic information
:: Agenda- Abstracts

For further information please contact:
-  Kristine Tovmasyan, Assistant Programme Specialist, Section for Disaster Reduction, Natural Sciences Sector, Tel: +33 (0)1 45 68 40 88, Fax: +33 (0)1 45 68 58 21
-  Jair Torres, Section for Disaster Reduction, Natural Sciences Sector, Tel: +33 (0)1 45 68 41 22, Fax: +33 (0)1 45 68 58 21
-  Donara Sydeeva, Section for Disaster Reduction, Natural Sciences Sector, Tel: +33 (0)1 45 68 39 33, Fax: +33 (0)1 45 68 58 21

• Source:UNESCO SC
• 16-06-2010

• © UNESCO/ F. Brugman -