The GEM Foundation continues to expand its global outreach through active participation in international conferences, training workshops, and governance meetings. These engagements highlight GEM's ongoing efforts to advance seismic risk reduction, strengthen collaboration with key global partners, and contribute to the development of innovative risk assessment tools. In this section, we bring you the latest updates from GEM’s involvement in these various events.
GEM partners presenting the TREQ results in the IDRiM (Integrated Disaster Risk Management Society) conference for DRR
At the recent IDRiM conference in August in Cartagena, Colombia, Nathalie García Millán of the Secretariat of Emergency and Disaster Risk Management in Cali, presented seismic risk analysis results for the city, and Professor Ana Beatriz Acevedo presented a 30-minute special session showcasing the materials for communicating earthquake risk, both developed from GEM's TREQ project. This initiative, in collaboration with Universidad EAFIT and supported by USAID-BHA, focused on training local experts to assess earthquake risks. The presentation highlighted the importance of local involvement in disaster risk management, showcasing how partnerships can enhance community resilience against future seismic events.
The sessions were organised as part of the communication component of the FORCE project:
"Am I at Earthquake Risk?" This 30-minute special session showcased the materials developed during the TREQ project for communicating earthquake risk to stakeholders and the general public. Professor Ana Beatriz Acevedo led this session with the support of all the members of the working group (GEM, SIATA-AMVA).
"Seismic Risk Assessment for Santiago de Cali, Colombia" This presentation highlighted the work carried out in Santiago de Cali during the TREQ project, focusing on its impact and applications in city planning and policy-making. The session was presented by Nathalie García Millán, the team leader from the city's DRR office (Secretaría de Gestión del Riesgo de Emergencias y Desastres, Santiago de Cali, Colombia).
Watch: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_brzL5sB0r/?igsh=MTY5enQ4emY5d2ticw%3D%3D
Learn more about the TREQ project: https://www.globalquakemodel.org/proj/treq
Use of the global seismic hazard outputs to estimate the “Expected Annual Disruption of Rhenium” and “Expected Annual Disruption of Copper” production globally
A new study by the U.S. Geological Survey uses GEM's Global Seismic Hazard Mosaic to estimate the "Expected Annual Disruption" (EAD) of global copper and rhenium production due to earthquakes. By applying seismic hazard curves to production facilities, the study forecasts annual disruption based on earthquake-induced ground shaking. The analysis also factors in the vulnerability of each facility, providing insights into the potential economic impact of seismic events on critical mineral supplies. This approach highlights the importance of understanding seismic risks to global supply chains.
PDF download: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2024/1028/ofr20241028.pdf
RAMSEY project update
The RAMSEY project, led by one of GEM’s public governor partners, Geoscience Australia, aims to build earthquake resilience in remote Western Australian communities like Meckering, which was hit by a 6.5 magnitude quake in 1968. Using GEM’s OpenQuake Engine, the project assesses seismic risks and informs mitigation strategies for critical infrastructure. RAMSEY focuses on strengthening local preparedness and infrastructure resilience, helping communities and emergency services better prepare for future earthquakes.
Read more and download the full report here: https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/community-safety/projects/improving-the-earthquake-hazard-resilience-of-remote-western-australian-communities
GEM at ESC24 in Corfu, Greece
GEM participated in the 39th General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission (ESC), held from September 22-27 in Corfu, Greece. Team members Al Mouayed Bellah Nafeh, Jarod Domenge, and Kirsty Bayliss gave presentations on key topics associated with seismic hazard modeling and the International Macroseismic Scale (IMS-2024). Al Mouayed Bellah Nafeh also co-chaired the session on the international macroseismic scale. Additionally, Kirsty Bayliss led a poster session on the OpenQuake Model Building Toolkit, showcasing tools for developing seismic hazard model components. Their participation emphasised GEM’s progress in earthquake science and risk management, underscoring their dedication to knowledge exchange and capacity building. The ESC Assembly gathered experts to discuss cutting-edge seismological research.
For more details about the event, visit https://www.erasmus.gr/microsites/1277.
GEM at PHIVOLCS
On August 2, while stationed in the Philippines, Jephraim Oro, GEM Communications Coordinator, visited the PHIVOLCS office in Quezon City, meeting with Engr. Henremagne C. Peñarubia - PHIVOLCS lead for the Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis model project for the Philippines, geologist Azdine Ysulan, and science research specialist Myleen Enriquez. The visit included a tour of PHIVOLCS' exhibition area and a review of available public awareness materials. Discussions covered exposure modelling projects in the country and the sharing of digital copies of the Special Acceleration Maps of the Philippines. This visit aimed to strengthen the collaborative relationship between GEM and PHIVOLCS in advancing seismic hazard and risk research as well as public awareness and education.
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