School Seismic Vulnerability Assessments
2020 - Present
Amargadhi, Nepal
Findings indicate the extent of risk to schoolchildren in the typical school building types found in a fast-growing municipality in far west Nepal.
Rapid Diagnostic of School Infrastructure
2020
Haiti
Findings about schools' vulnerability to natural hazards, climate change, and infrastructure deficiencies will inform plans to make schools safer and more resilient.
Timoun an Aksyon (Kids in Action)
2019 - Present
Cap-Haitien, Haiti
In their own voice and style, youth share new knowledge about extreme earthquake and coastal risks and how to take action for disaster resilience.
Family Preparedness for Earthquakes
2016 - 2021
Haiti, Dominican Republic
Promoted preparedness steps specific to where people live, and in plain language explained the science behind local risk. Outreach in Kreyol, French, Spanish, and English.
Disaster Scenarios for Risk-Informed Planning
2016 - 2019
West Nepal
Scenarios of a plausible earthquake quantify impacts, including more than 50% of schools damaged, and guide communities to reduce extreme risk before a disaster.
Producing Affordable Earthquake Desks
2015 - 2018
Bhutan
Locally made Earthquake Desks are affordable, withstand heavy loads, and provide safer cover in schools that are not yet earthquake resistant.
Students with Visual Impairments Prepare for Disasters
2015
Bhutan
A disaster preparedness plan and drills tailored for students with visual impairments, so they practice how to respond safely during and after emergencies.
Seismic Resilience Evaluations
2013, 2016 - 2018
Bhutan
Engineers gained skills to assess structural vulnerability of Bhutan’s schools and health facilities, so that the government could evaluate post-earthquake safety of buildings.
Safest Action During an Earthquake
2013 - 2015
Global, Haiti
A person’s immediate action when an earthquake begins makes a difference in safety. This evidence-based guidance emphasizes protective action for the local context.
Bhutan National School Earthquake Safety Day
2013
Bhutan
An annual learning event and simultaneous national school drill for all schools in Bhutan, which lies in a high seismic zone.
Protecting School Children from Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Volcanoes
2011
APEC Economies
A comprehensive program that outlines how to keep students out of harm’s way who live in high-risk earthquake, tsunami, and volcano hazard zones in APEC countries.
National Action Plans for School and Hospital Earthquake Safety
2010 - 2014
India, Bhutan
These consensus-based action plans, which include ways to prepare for and reduce risk in schools and health facilities, were adopted into national policy.
School Earthquake Safety in Rural Peru
2010 - 2011
Chocos, Peru
Villagers helped masons to seismically retrofit the local adobe school. In the process, they learned why and how to build in ways that resist earthquake damage.
Annual India School Earthquake Drills
2009
India
Students and staff of Tibetan schools in north India states first participated in a 2009 earthquake drill that now occurs annually and in many more schools across India.
Delhi Area School Earthquake Preparedness
2008 - 2015
Delhi Area, India
Volunteers from an engineering company’s local office taught students, faculty and parents about disaster risk, preparedness, and how to mitigate specific vulnerabilities in buildings.
Advancing Earthquake Engineering Practice and Instruction
2007 - 2011
Pakistan
Developed university earthquake engineering curriculum and supported strengthening of graduate program; advanced structural analysis capacity and extensively mentored practicing engineers.
Earthquake Safety of the Tibetan Community
2006 - 2009
Dharamshala, India
An effort to develop seismic strengthening and protect contents for a key building, raise awareness, and prepare schools in the city that is home to the Tibetan government-in-exile.
OECD School Earthquake Safety Policy
2004 - 2005
OECD Countries
Guidance for nations to develop an effective school earthquake safety program, approved by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Seismic Retrofit of Key Delhi Buildings
2002 - 2008
Delhi, India
Engineers gained on-the-job experience to design and install retrofit solutions for a large school, which cost less than to rebuild and became a model.
Community Earthquake Safety Central Asia
2002 - 2005
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Created school programs and disseminated disaster awareness materials to over 50% of schoolchildren in cities with high seismic risk:Tashkent, Dushanbe and Almaty.
Earthquake Vulnerability of Gujarat Schools
2001 - 2002
India
This study found significant earthquake vulnerability in Gujarat public school buildings and recommended steps to reduce and mitigate the risk.
Disaster Preparedness for Schools in Turkey
2000
Turkey
This innovative online disaster awareness curriculum, including self-study and teacher training, scaled nationwide and reached remote corners of Turkey.
Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management
1995 - 2000
Nepal
One objective was to quantify and plan how to mitigate the high vulnerability of public schools. This led to hands-on training and seismic retrofit of many schools.
Schools Seismic Retrofit Designs for Quito
1995
Ecuador
Created seismic retrofit designs for typical building types using local materials and construction techniques, and strengthened representative schools.