Symposium on Earthquake Engineering

The experts dwell on earthquake resistant building construction techniques:

P.S. Chauhan

The experts from all over the globe deliberated on the need of earthquake proof building designs on the occasion of three-day symposium which is held after the interval of four years. The symposium was jointly organized by the earthquake engineering department of the IIT Roorkee and the Indian Society of Earthquake Technology.

The occasion coincided with the celebration of the golden jubilee of the earthquake engineering department of the IIT. Professor M.L. Sharma, the organizing secretary of the symposium said that 202 engineers and scientists from around the globe participated in the symposium. "It provides a platform for researchers, professional, planners and policy makers associated with earthquake engineering to share their views and discuss the solutions to the challenges before the nation. An attempt is being made to prepare a blue print for safer India," said Sharma. Inaugurating the symposium, professor W.D. Liam Finn of the department of civil engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada fondly remembered Professor Jaikrishan, founder of earthquake engineering department in the IIT Roorkee and father of earthquake engineering in India. Professor D.K. Paul, the president of the Indian Society of Earthquake Technology, dwelt on the history of the society and its objectives.

Professor Bing Li of the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore highlighted the drawbacks of the present seismic design practice, specially of columns in R.C. buildings and suggested some remedies to it. Dr. Amir Kaniya of the Norwegian Geological Institute said that earthquake resistant designs should consider the local soil structure, since it had an important role in seismic response of the buildings. Padmshree Dr. A.S. Arya, Professor Emiritus in earthquake engineering department in the IIT Roorkee emphasized on mainstreaming the disaster management to housing projects. He regretted that the two major projects of the government of India, JNNURM and Rajiv Avas Yojna did not talk about disaster management. Dr. Deminik Lang from NORSAR, Norway presented a study on seismic vulnerability of hospitals and schools in Dehradun. He said that none of the surveyed hospitals in Dehradun was earthquake-proof. "In case of any mishap these would be destroyed, leaving no place of treatment for the injured," he pointed out. Putul Haldar presented a software for risk assessment of cities and a case study of Dehradun. "About 1,500 people would die and nearly 11,000 would be injured, if an earthquake of the intensity VIII strikes Dehradun," she said. W.D. Latim Finn presented the annual 31st lecture on evolution in selection and application of ground motions for design. He was also awarded the annual prize.

Some important proposals were also adopted in the symposium. One proposal said that since most of the building contractors were not qualified, there should be an eligibility criteria for them. Another proposal pointed out that there should be licensing system for structural engineers, as many practising engineers do not follow earthquake resistant construction guidelines in their designs. An important recommendation made by the experts was the inclusion of disaster management and preparedness in school education. In still another resolution it was demanded that the interval of the symposium should be reduced from 4 to 2 years.