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The Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation recently conducted capacity-building activities under the USAID-supported Forecasting and Communicating Earthquake Hazard and Risk (FORCE) Project, aimed at enhancing earthquake preparedness and resilience in the Southwest Pacific.

Suva Workshop: Building Capacity for Earthquake Risk Assessment

On 18–19 November 2024, GEM conducted a two-day training workshop in Suva, Fiji, bringing together local stakeholders and experts to address the region’s unique seismic challenges. The event, held alongside the STAR Conference, focused on earthquake hazard and risk assessment for one of the regions with the largest seismicity in the world - the Southwest Pacific Islands.

Facilitated by GEM’s Catalina Yepes Estrada and Kendra Johnson, the workshop featured interactive sessions on probabilistic seismic hazard and risk analysis using GEM’s OpenQuake Engine. Participants gained hands-on experience with tools and methods to tailor risk models to local needs. Discussions addressed data and resource challenges, emphasising the importance of using advanced models in disaster risk reduction. In addition, participants delivered presentations on earthquake-related activities in their respective countries, providing valuable context and showcasing the need for locally adapted risk reduction strategies.

Local collaboration played a crucial role in the workshop’s success, with contributions from the Mineral Resources Department (MRD) in Fiji, the Pacific Community-SPC, UNESCO IOC, and USAID-Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.

Special thanks to the participating organisations:

• Fiji - Mineral Resources Department (MRD) and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO)

• Solomon Islands - Geology and Survey Division, Ministry of Mines

• Tonga - Natural Resources Division, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR)

• Papua New Guinea - Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management

• Vanuatu - Vanuatu Meteorological and Geohazards Department (VMGD)

• Samoa - Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE)

• Australia - Geoscience Australia (GA)

Expanding Hazard Models to Support Remote Communities

As part of the FORCE Project, GEM has extended its Global Seismic Hazard Mosaic to include ocean-based models, covering remote communities in the Pacific. This initiative fills critical gaps in the seismic hazard assessment for small island nations such as Palau, Kiribati, and the Cook Islands. A webinar that Kendra Johnson and Kirsty Bayliss facilitated on 23 October 2024 highlighted these advancements, presenting GEM’s methodologies for developing models in data-scarce regions.

Participants explored seismic hazard trends and the practical applications of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) in the Pacific. The webinar recording and slides are available on GEM’s website and YouTube channel for those who missed the session.

Building on Progress

The FORCE Project continues to advance regional resilience through targeted workshops, improved seismic models, and strengthened partnerships. By equipping communities and decision-makers with robust tools and models, GEM aims to support enhanced earthquake risk management and sustainable development across the Pacific.

For more information on the FORCE Project and its initiatives, visit the project website:

https://www.globalquakemodel.org/proj/force