News Regional Dialogue on Seismic Risk in Istanbul By: Oct 6, 2025 Sep 23, 2025 Share Facebook LinkedIn The Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation joined government officials, academics, and international organisations at the Joint Regional Workshop on Enhancing Seismic Risk Assessment Capacities in ECO Member States, held on 22-23 September 2025 in Istanbul. The workshop was convened by the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Secretariat in collaboration with the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of Türkiye (AFAD) and the Asian and Pacific Center for the Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM), one of the GEM Foundation’s associate partners. It formed part of the implementation of the ECO Regional Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (ECORFDRR). The two-day event gathered participants from 22 countries, along with representatives from UNDRR, the Asian Development Bank, and other partners. Discussions focused on enhancing technical capacity in seismic risk assessment, integrating socioeconomic vulnerability into models, and strengthening cooperation on data sharing and risk information systems. GEM’s Role Representing GEM, Seismic Risk Modelling Lead Anirudh Rao presented during Session 2 on Seismic Risk Assessment Methodologies. The session provided an overview of the components of innovative seismic risk assessments, focusing on probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA), the development and application of vulnerability and fragility functions, the collection and analysis of exposure data, and the integration of socioeconomic dimensions of risk. By sharing GEM’s global experience, he demonstrated how harmonised approaches and open-source tools such as the OpenQuake Engine can be adapted to support national and regional initiatives. Outcomes and Next Steps The workshop highlighted key challenges faced by ECO Member States, including the lack of standardised data, limited financial resources, and the need for regional collaboration. Recommendations included greater interoperability of risk data platforms, investment in capacity building, and stronger integration of social vulnerability and economic impacts into seismic risk models. For GEM, participation reinforced its commitment to open science and international cooperation. By engaging with regional partners, the Foundation continues to support efforts that bring together scientific advances and policy action in disaster risk reduction. For more details, visit the ECO Secretariat event summary. https://eco.int/eco-afad-and-apdim-organize-joint-regional-workshop-on-enhancing-seismic-risk-assessment-capacities-in-eco-member-states/ No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

News Understanding seismic risk through capacity development and knowledge sharing webinar draws hundreds of participants from around the world By: Jul 6, 2021 Share Facebook LinkedIn The Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation TREQ Project, with support from USAID, presented the progress of the urban earthquake hazard and risk assessments, and capacity development efforts in Quito (Ecuador), Cali (Colombia) and Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic) on July 9th 2021 via Zoom webinar. The event featured the USGS earthquake hazard- and consequences-driven scenarios for the pilot cities, the results of the OpenQuake engine training in hazard and risk assessment, and lessons from the integration of TREQ’s educational and training materials into university courses. Building on the success of the collaborative efforts of the South America Risk Assessment project (SARA) in 2013 and Central America and the Caribbean Risk Assessment project (CCARA) in 2017, the TREQ team, in collaboration with local experts from Quito, Cali and Santiago de los Caballeros, are updating the hazard and risk models of the pilot cities using more detailed hazard and risk information. The project results are expected to set the foundation for enhancing earthquake hazard and risk assessment in other cities and urban areas in the region. The results of the study will be open and accessible to a wide-range of users – from risk analysts, emergency planners and managers to researchers, modelers and the public at large. While most of the models will be available, there will be some limitations due to privacy considerations of local governments. Since 2020, the TREQ team has trained more than 400+ individuals from almost 60 countries - the majority from the countries where the pilot studies are located, namely Ecuador, Colombia and Dominican Republic - and produced training and educational materials that are being adapted for university courses through the project’s Training the Trainers component. Below is some of the feedback from the stakeholders. "I really liked the experience and I would like to take this workshop to my students of the Master's Degree in Earthquake Engineering so that we can do research projects." - Maribel Guzman, PUCMM, Dominican Republic. "Delighted with the information presented and the material is excellent, including the modeling software" - Hernán Suárez, Risk Management Unit - Municipality of Quito, Ecuador "Congratulations on the development of the tool and your training! Very, very interesting and useful." - Srahyrlandy Rocio Díaz, Risk management secretariat, Cali, Colombia. More than 240 individuals participated from around the world and across various sectors in the webinar held on July 9th, 2021. The event was streamed live on Facebook in English and Spanish. For more information, visit the event page at . No images found. GALLERY 1/0 Gallery VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

Publications Guidelines for Analytical Vulnerability Assessment-Low/Mid-Rise Share Facebook LinkedIn Download 2014 | Report Guidelines (GEM-ASV) for developing analytical seismic vulnerability functions are offered for use within the framework of the Global Earthquake Model (GEM). Emphasis is on low/mid-rise buildings and cases where the analyst has the skills and time to perform non-linear analyses. The target is for a structural engineer with a Master’s level training and the ability to create simplified non-linear structural models to be able to determine the vulnerability functions pertaining to structural response, damage, or loss for any single structure, or for a class of buildings defined by the GEM Taxonomy level 1 attributes. At the same time, sufficient flexibility is incorporated to allow full exploitation of cutting-edge methods by knowledgeable users. The basis for this effort consists of the key components of the state-of-art PEER/ATC-58 methodology for loss assessment, incorporating simplifications for reduced effort and extensions to accommodate a class of buildings rather than a single structure, and multiple damage states rather than collapse only considerations.

News Advancing Seismic Hazard Assessment: GEM-INGV Knowledge Exchange on OpenQuake By: Apr 5, 2025 Mar 19, 2025 Share Facebook LinkedIn GEM recently led a knowledge exchange at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) headquarters in Milan, focusing on the latest capabilities of the OpenQuake Engine and the Model Builder’s Toolkit (OQ-MBTK) . The sessions were aimed at discussing seismic hazard assessment methodologies, particularly in the context of developing Italy’s next national seismic hazard model. The event brought together experts from GEM and INGV to explore how OpenQuake’s advanced functionalities can support more accurate and comprehensive seismic risk assessments. Marco Pagani, GEM Head of Seismic Hazards, Senior Software Developer Michele Simionato, Seismic Hazard Scientist Christopher Brooks, and Senior Active Faults Specialist Richard Styron led the training sessions. The programme featured hands-on exercises demonstrating how to develop and analyse model components for Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) using the OQ-MBTK. During the interactive sessions, participants explored practical applications of the OpenQuake tools, including how to build and refine seismic hazard models tailored to Italy’s specific seismic landscape. The discussions highlighted the importance of integrating diverse data sources and advanced modelling techniques to improve risk assessment accuracy. One of the key takeaways from the exchange was the emphasis on collaboration between scientific institutions to advance earthquake risk science. Marco remarked: “Working with INGV on improving seismic hazard modelling shows how public institutions can leverage open tools and data to enhance hazard and risk assessment and decision-making processes.” The workshop underscored the significance of partnerships between research entities and public institutions in translating scientific progress into practical solutions for seismic risk management. By promoting technical collaboration, GEM and INGV aim to develop robust hazard models that better inform disaster risk reduction strategies. The session also reinforced GEM’s commitment to supporting national efforts in seismic safety through open, science-based tools. The insights gained from this exchange are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping more resilient infrastructures and communities. Learn more about the Model Builder’s Toolkit: OQ-MBTK No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

News Multidisciplinary team conducts a new study of the Western Nepal Fault System to help update seismic hazard and risk model of Nepal By: May 23, 2019 Share Facebook LinkedIn Active fault in roadcut. Photo credit: Richard Styron Richard Styron, GEM Active Faults Specialist, visited Nepal in March-April to help map ~60 km of previously unexplored active fault in the Nepal Himalaya (Western Nepal Fault System). The objective of the 5-week long fieldwork is to assess the fault's history, rates of earthquake activity, and interaction with other Himalayan faults. The study - funded by US National Science Foundation, involving fault geologists, hazard modelers, and seismic engineers - is expected to improve knowledge and understanding of Himalayan faulting, as well as faults in subduction zones, and yield an updated seismic hazard and risk model of Nepal. The new model will provide the basis for earthquake retrofitting strategies for rural Nepali houses. No images found. GALLERY Nepal field geology 2019 Nepal field geology 2019 Nepal field geology 2019 Nepal field geology 2019 1/7 Nepal field geology 2019. Photo credit: Richard Styron VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

You have chosen to request a demo on: South Asia Exposure First Name Last Name Email Company or Institution Name Country Sector Provide Details I accept the license terms and the conditions of products use. Email us at product@globalquakemodel.org if you're experiencing problems submitting this form or if you have any inquiries. Thank you. Request Thanks for submitting! You will be contacted as soon as possible Add answer here

News Earthquake Risk Modelling workshop participants in Canada: Ready to switch to OpenQuake software for seismic risk assessment By: May 4, 2018 Share Facebook LinkedIn The Geological Survey of Canada in collaboration with the UBC Earthquake Engineering Research Facility and the GEM Foundation organized its first GEM OpenQuake training workshop in Vancouver, Canada from 11th - 13th April with the theme: “Earthquake Risk Modeling in Canada - from knowledge to action”. Over 50 people with different backgrounds participated in the event including GEM’s Anirudh Rao who presented GEM and its current work, and co-facilitated a session on OpenQuake engine. “The OpenQuake workshop session was a big success. It opened several opportunities for future collaboration with Canada's leading seismic hazard scientists, structural engineers, risk mitigation experts from the City of Vancouver, and electric utility agencies concerned about seismic risk to their assets and convinced many participants to switch to OpenQuake after experiencing first hand the engine’s computational capability,” Anirudh Rao, GEM Physical Risk Engineer and lead OpenQuake trainer at the 3-day event. Dr. Murray Journeay - GSC/NRCan risk modelling expert and longtime GEM collaborator, facilitated the workshop designed for risk modelers working in areas of both fundamental and applied science - and those who were interested in using outputs of risk assessments to inform disaster resilience planning at local and regional scales in Canada. The event presented an overview of earthquake risk assessment activities in British Columbia, followed by a two-day interactive workshop to explore the analytic capabilities of the OpenQuake engine and Platform. In particular, workshop objectives included: - Explore GEM's risk datasets, models and tools; - Present GEM’s Risk Modeller's Toolkit to derive fragility and vulnerability models; - Perform probabilistic seismic risk analysis, and scenario damage and loss estimation using the OpenQuake-engine; - Contribute to GEM’s Global Risk Modelling effort.On the last day, Dr. Murray Journeay (below, left) was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Geological Survey of Canada for his work throughout his career in promoting earthquake risk awareness and reduction in Canada, and for his efforts in recent years in helping Canada become a public partner of GEM. Canada became an official member of the GEM Foundation in December 2017. No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

You have chosen to request a demo on: Global Earthquake Impact Database (GEID) First Name Last Name Email Company or Institution Name Country Sector Provide Details I accept the license terms and the conditions of products use. Email us at product@globalquakemodel.org if you're experiencing problems submitting this form or if you have any inquiries. Thank you. Request Thanks for submitting! You will be contacted as soon as possible Add answer here

News International Conference for the Decade Memory of the Wenchuan Earthquake By: Jul 12, 2018 Share Facebook LinkedIn The 4th International Conference on Continental Earthquakes organized by the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) was held from May 12-14, 2018 in Chengdu, Sichuan, China to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake. “It has been 10 years since the great earthquake of Wenchuan, Sichuan, southwest China. The impact of that devastating event on either natural science or social sustainability was so important that a decade review will be of no doubt worth for further development,” said Prof. Guoguang Zheng, conference convener and Director of China Earthquake Administration. In line with this, GEM’s Marco Pagani with CEA’s Prof. Mengtan Gao co-organized a session on the activities promoted by Global Earthquake Model. In this session, Anirudh Rao from the GEM Risk Team presented how the OpenQuake engine could be used to assess earthquake risk. Examples of annual average losses, exposure and vulnerability models were presented to emphasize the scientific features of the engine. Anirudh also emphasized the importance of open tools and open data being promoted by GEM. This conference had also been a venue to report the progress of GEM-CEA collaboration to implement China’s national earthquake hazard model on OpenQuake. The collaboration, which started in 2017 hopes to update China’s hazard model for better understanding of future earthquakes in the country. The GEM-CEA technical partnership aims to further fine tune the model for mitigation purposes. In one of the presentations, Professor Tso-Chien Pan from the Institute of Catastrophe Risk Management-NTU Singapore showed a case-study using OpenQuake to investigate the effects of high-resolution location-based exposure data on seismic risk estimates of urbanized regions in Southeast Asia. About the Wenchuan earthquake Sichuan earthquake of 2008, also called Wenchuan earthquake or Great Wenchuan Earthquake, Chinese Wenchuan dizhen or Wenchuan Da Dizhen, massive and enormously devastating earthquake that occurred in the mountainous central region of Sichuan province in southwestern China on May 12, 2008. The epicentre of the magnitude-7.9 quake (measured as magnitude 8.0 by the Chinese) was located near the city of Dujiangyan, about 50 miles (80 km) west-northwest of Chengdu, the provincial capital, at a depth of 11.8 miles (19 km) below the surface. The May 2008 quake flattened some four-fifths of the structures in the affected area. Whole villages and towns in the mountains were destroyed, and many schools collapsed. Almost 90,000 people were counted as dead or missing and presumed dead in the final official Chinese government assessment; the officially reported total killed included more than 5,300 children, the bulk of them students attending classes.(source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Sichuan-earthquake-of-2008) No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

Publications Working together to assess risk from global to local: lessons from the Global Earthquake Model Share Facebook LinkedIn Download 2015 | Peer-reviewed Reliable, high-quality risk assessment is the basis for an objective understanding of risk; priority for action 1 of the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction 2015-2030. It is the foundation of decisions and actions that effectively build resilience. Earthquake risk continues to rise, yet reliable data, risk information, and assessment tools are out of reach or under-utilised in many areas of the world. The Global Earthquake Model (GEM Foundation) was created to bridge these critical gaps. Through authentic collaboration across public and private stakeholders, the GEM community supports risk management and awareness by developing and implementing open risk assessment tools, compiling and generating risk information. GEM influences risk reduction by promoting technology transfer and developing risk assessment capacity. All GEM risk assessment resources are made freely available through its web-based OpenQuake platform. As input to the Sendai framework, this paper provides an overview of GEM's achievements to date, lessons learnt - emphasizing effective modes of collaboration and capacity development -, and presents opportunities and challenges in going forward. This paper is from the Global Risk Forum Davos Planet@Risk Journal, which is no longer available.