GEM latest updates LATEST UPDATES Top Story OpenQuake at 15: Powering Resilience in a Risk-Prone World This year marks the 15th anniversary of the OpenQuake Engine, GEM’s open-source software for seismic hazard and risk assessment. Since the start of open source development in 2010 and the release of the first version in 2014, the Engine has grown into a globally recognised platform used by scientists, engineers, insurers, and policymakers across continents. Its evolution reflects not only advances in modelling but also the growing need to translate science into tools that strengthen resilience in communities at risk. More Share Facebook LinkedIn MORE NEWS Search Archive 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 ... 66 Uganda becomes first Public Governor appointed through GEM’s merit-based partnership pathway GEM marks 15 years of the OpenQuake Engine during UN disaster risk reduction day Why 2026 is a Milestone Year for GEM’s Global Seismic Hazard and Risk Work GEM supports national seismic hazard and risk modelling in Morocco through OpenQuake training GEM delivers OpenQuake training for Arab League States GEM’s Vitor Silva receives ASCE civil engineering research prize

News PAPERS project advances scenario-based seismic hazard and risk assessment By: Apr 24, 2026 Share Facebook LinkedIn GEM recently concluded the PAPERS project – Piattaforma Analisi Pericolosità E Rischio Sismico – an initiative to strengthen scenario-based seismic hazard and risk assessment through a single operational framework that combines open models, high-performance computing, the OpenQuake Engine and a WebGIS environment. The project is designed to support more integrated analysis of scenario hazard, exposure and risk, while also creating a platform structure that could be extended to any national context where the underlying data are available. The initiative is organised around three main components: building the operational platform around the OpenQuake Engine, preloading the system with hazard, exposure and vulnerability models together with earthquake scenarios (including historical events and events from a stochastic catalogue) and building the capability for user-defined models to replace the preloaded models. A key strength of the platform is the way it brings different types of information into a single environment. As shown in the project demonstration (see video below), users can explore multiple layers of exposure data at different administrative levels, including building counts, material types, occupancies, replacement costs, occupants and selected road infrastructure indicators. The platform also supports the selection of hypothetical earthquake events, the running of calculations and the creation of interactive maps showing outputs such as buildings beyond repair, economic losses and fatalities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulNSKR-nBJY These features are intended to support a more operational and exploratory approach to seismic risk analysis. Rather than working only with static outputs, users can interact with the platform to examine how losses and impacts are distributed geographically and across different exposure categories. The project was funded through a cascade grant under Italy’s High-Performance Computing, Big Data e Quantum Computing Research Centre. GEM considers the PAPERS computational infrastructure as a foundation that can support future applications in many other partner countries. No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS FACT BOX

News Croatian Centre for Earthquake Engineering (CCEE) joins GEM as Public Governor By: Apr 24, 2026 Share Facebook LinkedIn GEM has entered into a new partnership with the two joint bodies of the Croatian Centre for Earthquake Engineering (CCEE), strengthening collaboration with an institution that has played an important role in Croatia’s post-earthquake recovery and ongoing risk reduction efforts. Through the partnership, CCEE has joined GEM as a Public Governor, adding to the foundation’s public governance network. The partnership brings into GEM two connected bodies within the Croatian Centre for Earthquake Engineering: the CCEE at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, and the CCEE Intervention Service. The collaboration reflects a combination of scientific support, applied research and post-disaster technical response. Established following the 2020 earthquakes in Croatia, the CCEE has contributed to recovery processes through collaboration with public authorities, technical initiatives aimed at reducing seismic vulnerability, and work to strengthen preparedness for future events. The Intervention Service, founded in 2021, was created to provide expert technical assistance after disasters, including field inspections of building damage and usability where civil engineering support is required. From GEM’s perspective, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to grounding earthquake risk reduction in local expertise and long-term institutional collaboration. It also reinforces the importance of connecting global risk science with institutions working directly in contexts where seismic risk is a lived and practical challenge. The timing is also notable, with Zagreb set to host the GEM Conference 2026 – From Faults to Future Scenarios on 23–25 June 2026. In that context, the partnership highlights the value of strong local institutions in shaping wider international discussions on seismic hazard, risk and resilience. This new membership further strengthens GEM’s engagement with public institutions and technical partners working at the intersection of science, practice and disaster risk reduction. No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS FACT BOX

News Training course in Palestine strengthens national capacity in seismic risk assessment By: Apr 24, 2026 Share Facebook LinkedIn A national training course held on 27–28 January 2026 in Al-Bireh brought together 18 professionals from key Palestinian institutions to strengthen technical capacity in earthquake scenario hazard and risk assessment using the OpenQuake Engine. Organised by the GEM Foundation in collaboration with An Najah National University, the Risk and Crisis Management Unit of the Ministry of Interior, and the Engineers Association, the course supported work to strengthen disaster risk management and advance Palestine’s multi-hazard risk platform under the Integrated Resilience initiative. Led by Jamal Dabbeek, Arab States Regional Coordinator at GEM, and Karim Aljawhari, Physical Vulnerability Modeller at GEM, who joined virtually, the programme combined scientific foundations with hands-on applications. The aim was to help participants connect seismic risk modelling with practical tools for analysis and decision support, while building a shared technical understanding across institutions involved in disaster risk management. The training included both theoretical and practical components covering earthquake modelling, seismic fault analysis, estimation of ground-motion intensity, simulation of historical earthquake scenarios using the OpenQuake Engine, and the preparation of hazard maps based on geographic information systems. It also addressed the assessment of potential economic losses from earthquakes and the analysis of scenarios linked to the recurrence of historical events. Alongside the technical sessions, participants were introduced to the Disaster Risk Maps platform developed through the Integrated Resilience project, which is intended to support decision-making by improving access to hazard information and strengthening data exchange among relevant institutions. The course also reviewed internationally used databases and models for seismic risk assessment. Speakers from the partner institutions framed the training as part of a broader national effort to strengthen preparedness and coordination. Dr. Jamal Al-Dabeik highlighted the importance of cooperation among institutions working on disaster risk reduction, while Prof. Dr. Jalal Al-Dabaik described risk assessment as a necessary first step in reducing disaster impacts and protecting lives and property through planning and advance preparation. Representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the Engineers Syndicate also stressed the value of continued capacity building and institutional cooperation. The programme also featured remarks from Helen Crowley, GEM’s Secretary General, who outlined the foundation’s vision for strengthening community resilience through open scientific tools that can support decision-makers and inform mitigation and response planning. At the close of the course, participants affirmed the importance of continuing cooperation between An Najah National University and partner institutions, including further training for national teams to manage the platform and apply its outputs in support of preparedness and disaster risk reduction. No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS FACT BOX

News GEM convenes key players in global exposure modelling at a workshop in Pavia By: Apr 24, 2026 Share Facebook LinkedIn GEM hosted a one-day Global Exposure Modelling Workshop in Pavia in February 2026, bringing together experts from Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, Overture Maps Foundation, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Meta, Technical University of Munich, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the U.S. Geological Survey, alongside the GEM exposure modelling team. The workshop focused on a central challenge in global risk modelling: how to build consistent exposure information that can describe buildings and infrastructure across countries while remaining useful for hazard, vulnerability and loss analysis. In GEM’s broader modelling framework, exposure data are a core component of risk assessment, providing information on building stock, occupancy, replacement cost and related characteristics needed to estimate potential impacts. GEM’s existing Global Exposure Model is a mosaic of national models covering residential, commercial and industrial building stock worldwide. The model includes information at the smallest available administrative level for each country or territory and is designed to support global and regional risk assessment. The workshop in Pavia built on this foundation by exploring how newer sources and methods could help move toward more detailed, individual building-level exposure information at a global scale. Participants contributed perspectives ranging from crowd-sourced mapping and open geospatial datasets to Earth observation, AI-based classification and building-level exposure models. Across the day, discussions moved from global imagery and map sources to the practical requirements of integrating detailed building information into multi-hazard risk models. A final roundtable considered shared priorities and possible frameworks for collaboration toward a building-level global exposure model, including the need for consistency, interoperability and open methodologies. The workshop highlighted how global exposure modelling increasingly depends on collaboration across communities that do not always work together directly, including geospatial data providers, Earth observation specialists and risk scientists. By convening these perspectives in one setting, GEM used the event not only to review current approaches, but also to help define the next steps in strengthening the exposure component of global risk modelling. No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS FACT BOX

News Uganda launches SERENE project with GEM to strengthen seismic safety and disaster resilience By: Apr 24, 2026 Share Facebook LinkedIn Uganda officially launched the SERENE Project on April 16, 2026 in Kampala, marking the start of a partnership between the National Building Review Board (NBRB) and the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation aimed at strengthening the country’s scientific basis for seismic safety, building standards and disaster preparedness. The launch event, held at the Mestil Hotel, brought together the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, NBRB Executive Secretary, Eng. Flavia Gutto Bwire, technical experts and partner institutions. SERENE, which stands for Scientific Evidence for Risk Engineering, Norms and Education , is designed to support Uganda’s resilience through science, regulation and risk-informed planning. In remarks highlighted around the launch, Helen Crowley, GEM’s Secretary General, said the project will support the development of a national seismic hazard map, improved exposure models, and Uganda’s first national seismic risk map in terms of economic loss. Those outputs are intended to inform future updates to engineering practice, physical development planning and disaster preparedness policy. The project comes at a time when Uganda is facing rapid urbanisation, rising investment in the built environment and continuing concerns about unsafe and non-compliant structures. At the launch, Gen. Katumba said the initiative would support the government’s effort to restore order in the construction sector and protect lives. “We are seeing a lot of developments coming up, but many are not compliant with the law,” he said, adding that infrastructure growth must be guided by proper planning, approved designs and adherence to building codes. Engr. Bwire similarly framed the project as a move toward prevention and better-informed action. “We continue to register buildings that are constructed without approvals or without following the required standards,” she said. “SERENE will give us the scientific evidence to better understand these risks and take informed action.” She added: “This is about ensuring that what we build today does not become a disaster tomorrow.” From GEM’s perspective, the initiative is significant not only for its technical scope, but also because it marks the foundation’s first national-level partnership in Sub-Saharan Africa. Helen described the event as more than a project launch, calling it “the start of a long-term effort to strengthen the evidence, institutions and practice needed for safer development in Uganda.” She also stressed that the work will combine global experience and tools with Ugandan institutions and expertise. GEM’s contribution to the launch also extended beyond the opening session. Catalina Yepes Estrada, GEM’s Exposure Development Lead, took part in a partner reflection and panel discussion on “The State of Hazard Vulnerability in Uganda,” reinforcing the project’s emphasis on linking scientific expertise with national dialogue on risk, resilience and safer development. The partnership also reflects a deepening institutional relationship between the two organisations, with NBRB having joined GEM’s Governing Board in late 2025 . Related links and sources: https://nbrb.go.ug/gem-foundation-commits-to-long-term-partnership-as-serene-project-launches-in-uganda/ https://nbrb.go.ug/nbrb-executive-secretary-calls-for-shift-from-disaster-response-to-prevention-at-serene-launch/ https://nbrb.go.ug/nbrb-gem-foundation-launch-serene-project-to-strengthen-ugandas-disaster-resilience/ https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/govt-italian-agency-launch-project-to-curb-il-NV_231913_042026 No images found. GALLERY 4F8A9756.JPG 4F8A9715.JPG 4F8A9763.JPG 4F8A9756.JPG 1/19 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS FACT BOX

News How GEM’s New June Releases Expand the Global Picture of Earthquake Risk By: Apr 24, 2026 Share Facebook LinkedIn GEM’s June 2026 release will not only update its core global hazard and risk products but also extend the scope of earthquake risk analysis into areas that are increasingly important for long-term planning and decision-making. Alongside updated global hazard and risk maps, the release will introduce new global seismic hazard datasets and new products on future exposure and risk, global road network exposure to liquefaction, and the carbon cost of earthquakes, and will also highlight advances in the hazard modelling that underpins these global products. Overall, the new release reflects a broader view of earthquake risk: one that considers not only where losses may occur, but also how impacts may change over time, affect critical systems, and generate wider consequences for recovery and resilience. These products add new layers of evidence for users working across research, public policy, engineering, insurance and investment. Among the main releases are GEM’s updated global hazard maps, which will provide, for the first time, a fully global view of seismic hazard , extending across the oceans so that onshore and offshore sources are treated consistently within one unified global framework. These maps remain a core reference product and support a wide range of applications, from scientific analysis to broader risk assessment and planning work. GEM will also release updated global risk maps, offering the latest view of earthquake risk across countries and regions . As one of GEM’s flagship global products, these maps help translate hazard information into potential impacts, supporting comparison, communication and further analysis. Furthermore, pioneering global views of future exposure and risk until 2065 will add a forward-looking dimension to GEM’s global portfolio. By looking beyond present-day conditions, this product is expected to support analysis of how risk may evolve under changing patterns of development, urban growth and asset accumulation, and how decisions we take today can increase resilience and change this future risk trajectory. GEM will unveil the first-ever probabilistic assessment of global liquefaction hazard , together with an analysis of the exposure of road networks to this secondary hazard caused by earthquakes. By bringing this aspect into GEM’s global product suite, the release will help users consider ground failure effects that can contribute significantly to earthquake damage and disruption, especially to infrastructure. GEM is also preparing to release an innovative product that will highlight the global environmental impact caused by earthquakes through embodied carbon (i.e. the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the entire life cycle of building materials). This introduces a new perspective that connects the built environment, risk and sustainability. This product links earthquake damage with reconstruction demand and the material consequences of recovery, helping broaden the discussion of earthquake cost beyond direct physical and economic losses alone. These products will be presented in June during the GEM Conference 2026, where participants will have an opportunity to learn more about their underlying methods and potential applications. A fuller report on the releases and related discussions will follow in the next edition of the newsletter. No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS FACT BOX

News Disaster Risk Reduction: The role of geological survey organizations (GSOs) in understanding risk and informing risk reduction actions By: Apr 11, 2023 Share Facebook LinkedIn Disaster Risk Reduction: The role of geological survey organizations (GSOs) in understanding risk and informing risk reduction actions The online forum, divided into three sessions held on February 6th (Enablers), February 13th (Science and Technology) and February 20th (Risk Management Goal), aimed at providing a high-level overview of the role of GSOs in disaster risk reduction, including strategies, awareness of and advocacy on hazards and risks, financial risk management, building codes, and early warning systems. The virtual event, organized by the World Community of Geological Surveys, NRCan, GEM Foundation and GNS New Zealand, was attended by more than 532 individuals from 97 countries. Keynote topics included an introduction to GSOs in Disaster Risk Reduction by Sahar Safaie (Sage On Earth Consulting); the Global tsunami early warning program and its cross-jurisdiction approach by Denis Chang Seng (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission); The evolution of earthquake building codes and recommended approaches for advancing building codes by Tunar Onur (Onur Seemann Consulting); and an Overview of the Global Earthquake Model and the lessons learned about partnerships at local, national, regional and global level by John Schneider (GEM Foundation). John’s presentation focused on GEM’s achievements built upon collaborations and partnerships at different geographic scales: Local - TREQ project to develop capacity for urban earthquake hazard and risk assessment in Quito, Santiago and Cali); Country - (national seismic risk model for Canada, earthquake risk assessment and retrofit scenarios for Türkiye and earthquake hazard model for the Philippines; Regional - European seismic hazard and risk model; and Global - global earthquake hazard and risk model. John emphasized that these multi-level engagements were guided by GEM principles (openness, credibility, collaboration and public good), and international drivers such as the Sendai Framework Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. Two questions highlighted the Q&A portion of the GEM session: 1) why aren't risk models used every five years to audit whether progress is being made in risk reduction by measuring and reporting expected economic damages and casualties?, and 2) how might GEM’s exposure database be used in other applications such as for the risk assessments of other hazards or in post-disaster impact assessments? For the first question, John expressed that it’s an area the GEM ought to be striving to be able to do. He added that over short time periods, it's quite difficult to do and explained that “I think it’s possible to monitor things like changes in building stock, look at earthquakes that are happening historically, and compare over different time scales in different countries”. John further added, “I think we're getting to a point where this is becoming more possible - not only for earthquakes but also for other hazards - as we evolve our capabilities, as we get better at measuring risk and collecting the data. We will be able to use modeling tools together with observations to do exactly that in the future”. For the second question, John answered that GEM’s global exposure database can be used for other perils because it’s hazard agnostic. He explained that the database contains information about the fundamental properties of residential, commercial and industrial buildings, construction practices, economic data and other variables that can be used for exposure modelling for climate change, floods, storms and other natural hazards. To watch all the presentations and recordings, please visit the American Geosciences Institute YouTube channel . No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS FACT BOX

News UK Space Agency project METEOR quarterly meeting in Kathmandu By: Dec 18, 2019 Share Facebook LinkedIn METEOR meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal Anirudh Rao and Nicole Paul participated in the quarterly UK Space Agency #METEOR Project meeting and workshops in Kathmandu, Nepal. The weeklong event was hosted by the National Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET) from 11-14 November. The event was attended by representatives from the British Geological Survey (BGS), ImageCat, National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET)- Nepal, and Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). From November 11th-12th, project collaborators presented updates on their respective work packages, and reviewed project progress. Anirudh presented GEM updates on the compilation of a library of vulnerability functions for multiple perils for use in the project, and on the identification and propagation of uncertainties in risk assessment. The host organization, NSET provided an International Partner presentation, discussing the details of building code compliance programs in Nepal. On November 13th, METEOR stakeholders from the policy-making level, the acting UK Ambassador to Nepal, NSET personnel and various university professors met to discuss policies and gaps in risk information. The following day was devoted to technical discussions on exposure, landslide, seismic hazard and flood, which was well attended by various technical and scientific staff from government ministries, bureaus and academic institutions. The next METEOR project stakeholders meeting is scheduled in 2020. For more information on the METEOR project, please visit . No images found. GALLERY 1/12 Gallery VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS FACT BOX

News GEM Secretary General delivers keynote lectures at national earthquake engineering conferences By: Dec 16, 2025 Nov 1, 2025 Share Facebook LinkedIn Helen Crowley, Secretary General of the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation, continued in this last quarter to deliver her keynote lecture “Engineering the Future: How Seismic Risk Models Can Build More Resilient Societies” at national earthquake engineering research conferences across Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. The invitations reflect GEM’s standing as a recognised partner in advancing seismic hazard and risk research and its engagement with the engineering and scientific community. She first presented at the 10th Turkish Conference on Earthquake Engineering, held in Istanbul from 8 to 10 October and organised by the Turkish Earthquake Foundation and the Chamber of Civil Engineers. The conference brought together researchers and practitioners to discuss advances in earthquake engineering, disaster management and policy integration. Later in the month, Helen was invited to deliver the keynote at the 6th Pan-Hellenic Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Technical Seismology, held in Athens from 30 October to 1 November. Through these engagements, GEM continued its outreach to share its vision for a more resilient world and to support dialogue between science, engineering and practice. ## No images found. GALLERY 20251008_151604.jpg 20251008_151017.jpg hc athens conf.jpeg 20251008_151604.jpg 1/10 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS FACT BOX