26
EDUCATION
OMAN DAILY Observer
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009
Seismic hazard assessment and risk mitigation project An Independent
Project will contribute to the devising of new laws for buildings and installations
Deanship for
Research at SQU
W
General view of the station showing the solar panel and the satellite dish used to send seismic data
W
ithin the framework of
SQU’s research efforts, and
in harmony with its pioneering role in creating new ideas for the
development and prosperity of Omani
society, and finding appropriate solutions to various problems arising from
natural or man-made changes, the University’s Earthquake Monitoring Centre will carry out, a project to devise
a comprehensive seismic plan for the
Sultanate. This will prepare accurate
microzonation maps for Muscat and
suggest preliminary measures for an
anti-earthquake code for buildings and
installations.
The Sultanate of Oman's unique location at the Southeastern part of the
Arabian tectonic plate has made it historically exposed to earthquake activity. In fact, a few years ago, there was
a noticeable increase in local volcanic
activity in the Sultanate, and particularly in the Northern regions closest to
Iran. Fortunately, no serious damage to
buildings and constructions has been
recorded so far. Yet, according to available historical information, the possibility of a strong earthquake in the
Sultanate is not far-fetched. Therefore
the government, led and guided by the
royal directions of His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos, has long understood the importance of monitoring seismic activity locally and across the neighbouring
regions and of devising measures to
safeguard lives and to mitigate damage
to buildings and installations.
There are three major stages of
seismic hazard assessment and risk
mitigation:
W
ithin the framework of its efforts
to advance and encourage researchers from within and outside the University,
SQU, in co-ordination with its
Publication and Information
Department, is launching an
initiative through which research of high value and good
quality will be published at the
expense of the University. Simultaneously, and within the
same framework, the Department will publish a new book
by Dr Ali Hassan al Lawatiyah
called The History of Omani
Civilization from the Fourth
to the Sixth Century, which is
expected to appear before the
end of this year.
In an interview with Ghelani, Director of Publication
and Information Department,
he spoke about the Department's role in and contribution
to publication and the conditions that should be met. He
added that in 2002 the Department started to print and publish authored, examined and
translated books which make
a contribution to knowledge
and have followed scientific
standards in their composition
and documentation. The University does not publish literary works like novels, short
stories and poetry anthologies.
Ghelani explained that publication is open to researchers
and scholars from inside and
outside SQU because the objective is to encourage publication, invest in Innovative
studies, and offer incentives
(1) Assessment of seismic hazard
(2) Assessment of seismic risk and
loss
(3) Development of loss reduction
strategies.
The First Stage
At the first stage emphasis is placed
on the assessment of seismic hazard
which involves determining the expected level of shaking by locating seismic
sources in the region, the past history
of earthquakes, and local soil characteristics. Assessment of loss is also accomplished by incorporating into seismic hazard a structural inventory and
associated fragility relationships (ie,
ground shaking versus level of damage
curves) into seismic hazard.
Loss reduction strategies: The final result of a seismic hazard study
is production of a series of digital GIS
maps (ie for seismic hazard, site amplification, microzonation, structural
inventory, structural damage and loss
estimation), a software package to
manipulate and modify these maps to
assess seismic hazard and risk, an antiearthquake building code, and rehabilitation of damaged property.
The Second Stage
This stage is dedicated to the development of maps for seismic hazard
and loss assessment. The development
of such maps involves on-the-spot and
immediate calculation of seismic data,
the interpretation of such data in urban
areas and the development of software
to facilitate accessibility at the right
time. They are known as microzona-
Station locations of the Oman Seismological Network
tion maps and are used to design and
evaluate structures because they reflect
the actual ground shaking in that location.
The methodology and assessment
of seismic risk involves prediction of
seismic damage to structures. Hence
the project will address the following
tasks: compilation and classification
of a structural inventory; development
of fragility curves (ie curves showing
the level of damage for given ground
shaking) for different classes of structures; and calculation of damage and
economic loss by combining the seismic hazard with the structural inventory and fragility curves.
At this stage, the information will
be compiled in an easily accessible and
electronically exchangeable format,
together with a GIS-based risk and
loss estimation software package specific to Muscat. The package will be
modelled on similar systems recently
introduced in the United States, such
as HAZUS (NIBS, 1997). HAZUS
was developed with technical support
and funding from FEMA, and has become the standard tool for loss estimation throughout the US.
The planned GIS software will be
useful not only for those dealing with
seismic hazard assessment and loss estimation, but also for city administrators, such as traffic and land-use planners, emergency response teams and
utility departments. The software will
be Windows-based, menu-driven, and
modular so that the databases can easily be updated and modified for other
purposes.
The Third Stage
This stage will include the preparation of an anti-earthquake building code. Based on the results from
the Project's first and second stages,
researchers will determine the structural categories for which retrofitting
is a viable alternative. They will then
develop guidelines and a priority list
for retrofitting. They will consider not
only standard structural strengthening
schemes but also the newly-developed
base isolation and energy absorption
techniques.
Researchers will design minimal
seismic monitoring schemes for critical structures in Muscat and encourage
private firms and government agencies to implement them. Mitigation of
seismic risk in an urban area involves
not only scientific research but also
the implementation of research results.
And implementation requires new legislation, new codes, institutionalisation of risk assessment and mitigation,
long-term monitoring of earthquakes
and structures, training and education.
The researchers will emphasise and
promote the importance of implementation throughout the project which
will be of immense value to Muscat
and may ultimately be used as a model
for seismic hazard studies in other cities in the region.
Important components of seismic
risk mitigation also include public
education and training programmes
for engineers and emergency managers. Observations drawn from past
earthquakes and research have clearly
confirmed the significance of such
activities. There is a large body of research literature already available on
this subject.
Available tools, will be used and
if necessary modified to meet Muscat
conditions.
It is expected that the third stage
will be completed six months after the
end of the second and detailed reports
will be prepared at the end of the third
as well as all stages.
Expected results
The results of the Project will be
of paramount importance to the prosperity and development of the Sultanate of Oman. Their impact, however,
will be directly related to the extent to
which they are communicated to and
adopted by those who can enforce seismic safety measures. The Project will
increase public awareness of seismic
risk throughout the country and especially within the city of Muscat and
will be used as a model for other cities. It will lead to new risk-reducing
initiatives (eg new legislation for landuse management, construction quality
control, and new seismic design codes
etc). The Project will also equip local
citizens with better and long-term tools
for monitoring and assessing seismic
risk in their region, for prioritising risk
mitigation measures, and for transferring research results to appropriate
parties. The training, education, and
publicity involved will increase the
public awareness and eventually lead
to a reduction in earthquake hazard in
the region.
By Prof Amir Ali al Rawas
ithin the
framework
of its endeavour to complete
its research system
and to enhance its
various fields, the
University Council
of SQU last week
approved the establishment of an independent
Deanship
for Research whose
vision is to raise the
status of the University to become one
of the best research
institutions in the region. This Deanship
is considered as one
of the fruits of SQU's five-year strategic plan which
sees scientific research in general as pivotal.
The decision to establish this Deanship is in harmony
with the continuing increase and development of research activity which started at SQU in 1999 when the
Deanship for Research and Postgraduate Studies was established as a cornerstone for developing a comprehensive research system which has enabled the University to
make important strides in this field.
His Majesty's generous decision (Makruma) in 2000
to support strategic research projects resulted in a
qualitative advance in research studies executed at the
University as it increased the financial support for research production and made it possible for researchers
to conduct and produce more comprehensive and indepth studies of international calibre and which offer
quality service to the Omani community.
Consequently, the establishment of the Deanship for
Research is a culmination of these efforts and a beginning of a new phase in the on-going development of
SQU.
The Deanship will be responsible for activating
SQU's overall research through its supervision of the
implementation of the University's strategic plan which
arose from His Majesty's vision to create a national research culture that will promote research activities and
instruments and enhance the work of researchers.
His Majesty's vision also aims to familiarise the
Omani community with all aspects of a research environment and to deepen the culture of innovation and
intellectual property at SQU in co-ordination with the
Research Council .
The Deanship will work on upgrading the role of
research centres and research chairs at SQU and on
increasing their research production by publishing findings in the University's in-house journals and in the proceedings of conferences inside and outside the Sultanate. It will also make its scientific activities accessible to
the Community and find funding for research projects.
The establishment of The Deanship for Research
fulfils one of the many ambitious objectives which SQU
has set for itself in its effort to raise its status both regionally and internationally. It will also provide better opportunities for more fruitful research collaboration with the
international academic community.
Book on the history of Omani civilisation soon
An opportunity for publication is available for
researchers from within and outside SQU
Jamal al Ghelani, Director
of the Department
of Publications and
Information
to researchers to enrich the
Oman archives with quality
publications.
The requirements for publication are as follows:
1. Submission of four hard
copies of the book loaded
into CDs, with their final
form as MS-Word and another copy in PDF form.
2. The book should be submitted with a laminated cover.
3. Its length should be not be
less than 300 pages.
4. An electronic synopsis
should include the following materials in both English and Arabic:
a. An introduction or a
preface
b. A Summary of book
chapters
c. A completed the Research Council application
Author’s requirements:
1. Author's Curriculum Vitae
in Arabic and English
2. Author's biography
3. Author's letter of request
to the Research Council to
publish his/her book
4. Author's declaration that
the book has not been published in any form
After the author's requirements are fulfilled, the book
will be presented to the Research Council which will
examine its theme and content
and decide if it is publishable.
If approved, it will be sent to
three referees for review, and
if the reviews are positive, the
Research Council will in turn
approve its publication at the
University's expense.
Ghelani added that in addition to the publication of
their books at its own expense,
the University offers researchers and scholars financial rewards for each volume.
University publications
Samples of SQU publication
Ghelani
explained that
there is no ceiling to the
number of that can be published because this depends
on the quality of the publications sent to the Department,
and whether they meet the
specific requirements. The
University, represented by the
Department of Publications
and Information, has published
14 books since 2005, an average of three books per year,
which is an acceptable average compared to the number
of proposals received. Presently, there is an inclination to
raise this number to fulfil the
expectations and ambitions of
the University, as it will continue to encourage researchers
and scholars to submit their
quality studies and researches,
especially those which are relevant to the Sultanate.
On the History of Omani
Civilisation from the Fourth
to the Sixth Century, Ghelani added that Dr Ali al Lawatiya's study is significant
because it sheds light on an
important aspect of the history
of Omani civilisation, and
that the Research Council has
decided to publish it because it
meets the publication requirements set by SQU. The book
is expected to appear before
the end of this year.
Ghelani added that the Department of Publications and
Information is committed to
publishing several books in
the near future, and, further,
that some new studies have
been recently reviewed by local and international referees,
and soon will be presented to
the Research Council. Once
approved, they will be published by the University and
added to the university publications to be exhibited at the
next book fair.