Policy & Planning

Every year, disasters destroy lives and hard-won progress in underserved communities. Tragedy strikes people who live in vulnerable buildings, in dangerously exposed coastal areas, or in regions not equipped to manage growth. It may take years to recover from disasters, but good policy and planning can prevent losses in the first place.

That’s why we connect governments with scientific, engineering, and policy expertise. Our collaboration bridges gaps in experience, which is even more critical as communities face new impacts from climate change. We also bring insights from social science and engage diverse local voices, to spotlight how disasters will affect people in different ways.

“In Aizawl, Mizoram everyone knows a person who died in a landslide. We helped create new hazard maps and regulations to control building on slopes. Now Mizoram needs more local experts who understand landslide triggers.”

Lalrinpuii Tlau

GeoHazards International Mitigation Specialist, Mizoram

Projects

Supporting Thimphu’s Path to Safer Buildings

Bhutan

Using models to identify and quantify building damage from two likely earthquakes affecting the capital city, the scenarios will inform land use planning and building codes to reduce risk.

Increasing Resilience to Earthquakes and Landslides in Shaanxi Province

China

Created a disaster scenario that vividly depicts likely casualties, damages, and actions to reduce risk. Chinese partners learned to develop this tool for public awareness and risk-informed planning.

Safety Measures for Landsliding in Kerala

India

Investigations of still dangerous slopes in Idukki, where 2018 landslides damaged thousands of homes. Partnered with Kerala University, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), local officials.

Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management

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.

OECD School Earthquake Safety Policy

OECD Countries

Guidance for nations to develop an effective school earthquake safety program, approved by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

“Unlike most I have observed, the vast majority of project funds was spent here, in Nepal. GeoHazards International not only brought technical expertise, but perhaps more important, introduced processes where decisions are made in the open, on the basis of merit and by consensus.”

Shiva B. Pradhanang

former President, National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET) Nepal

Blog

The Challenge to Protect Water Systems in Hill Cities

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The Human Cost of Disasters, and the Urgency to Act

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Designing for Disasters Before They Happen:Veronica Cedillos MIT Architecture Lecture

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The Power in Planning

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Why We Work in Far West Nepal

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The Worry About Kerala's Next Monsoon

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Taming Unnatural Disasters

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On the Move in Nepal

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Seeking Clues from China's Great Earthquakes

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What Should You Do in a Shaking Building?

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Closing the Gender and Age Gap in Tsunami Survival

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If You Can’t Get Away from a Tsunami, Get Above It

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“In far west Nepal, not everyone knows we expect a very big earthquake. Districts are rushing to build roads, homes and schools. But poor planning sets the stage for disaster. Now is our chance to push for safe growth instead.”

Lokendra Bhatta

former GeoHazards International Nepal Field Officer

Publications

Understanding GEM’s Potential Beneficiaries
A study of earthquake risk reduction activities, needs, and barriers, to help guide Global Earth future tool and resource development for users who are not risk assessment experts.

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Understanding GEM's potential beneficiaries
Lessons for Central Asia
International technical experts and regional policymakers together developed strategies for urban earthquake risk management in the Central Asian Republics: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.

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A lesson for Central Asia
Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management Action Plan
GeoHazards International convened more than eighty government and non-government institutions to develop an earthquake mitigation Action Plan, which was released and endorsed by the Prime Minister of Nepal in 1999.
RADIUS Project of Antofagasta, Chile
A scenario of a hypothetical but likely earthquake, based on a probabilistic seismic risk, shows vulnerabilities that put people in danger and the likely damage to buildings and infrastructure. Includes an Action Plan to reduce these risks.

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Antofagasta RADIUS Project
RADIUS Case Study Tijuana, Mexico
A scenario of a hypothetical but likely earthquake, based on a probabilistic seismic risk, shows vulnerabilities that put people in danger and the likely damage to buildings and infrastructure. Includes an Action Plan to reduce these risks.

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Tijuana Radius Project
RADIUS Case Study Guayaquil, Ecuador
A scenario of a hypothetical but likely earthquake, based on a probabilistic seismic risk, shows vulnerabilities that put people in danger and the likely damage to buildings and infrastructure. Includes an Action Plan to reduce these risks.

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Radius Project of Guayaquil
Risk Assessment Tools for Diagnosis of Urban Areas against Seismic Disasters (RADIUS)
Earthquake damage scenarios and action plans in nine case-study cities: Latin America (Antofagasta, Guayaquil, Tijuana); Asia (Bandung, Tashkent, Zigong); Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe (Addis Ababa, lzmir and Skopje). Lessons could be applied to other earthquake-prone cities.

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Risk Assessment Tools for Diagnosis of Urban Areas against Seismic Disasters
Global Earthquake Safety Initiative (GESI)
Technical information about likely lethality of earthquakes in 21 cities-- including vulnerable aspects of the built environment, schools and hospitals. The model alerts and helps the cities prioritize risk mitigation efforts, with special attention to strengthening school buildings.

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Global Earthquake Safety Initiative
The Quito, Ecuador Earthquake Risk Management Project
Quito has experienced several strong intensity earthquakes over the last 250 years. Seismic risk has increased with population growth, poorly constructed buildings, and uncontrolled development. This report describes effects of future earthquakes and prioritizes risk management options.

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The Quito, Equador, Earthquake Risk Mangement Project
Home Coming: A story about how a strong earthquake affects a family with "left-behind" children in Weinan, Shaanxi Province, China.
Follows a family impacted by a major earthquake in central China, where the deadliest recorded earthquake occurred in 1556. Two versions: 1) graphic novel format for non-technical readers, including rural families and youth, 2) more technical, for public officials and decision makers.
Towards a Safer Bajhang: A Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake Scenario and Steps to Build Disaster Resilience
Details how a plausible disaster would impact the district and how to improve resilience. A storyline follows local characters and includes practical lessons to prepare. Appendices contain detailed technical findings of use to local decision makers as they manage safe growth and plan disaster response.
Towards a Safer Rukum (West): A Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake Scenario and Steps to Build Disaster Resilience
Details how a plausible disaster would impact the district and how to improve resilience. A storyline follows local characters and includes practical lessons to prepare. Appendices contain detailed technical findings of use to local decision makers as they manage safe growth and plan disaster response.
Towards a Safer Dadeldhura: A Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake Scenario and Steps to Build Disaster Resilience
Details how a plausible disaster would impact the district and how to improve resilience. A storyline follows local characters and includes practical lessons to prepare. Appendices contain detailed technical findings of use to local decision makers as they manage safe growth and plan disaster response.
Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes
A process for nations to develop an effective school earthquake safety program, prepared for Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Investing in Quito’s Future
A description of the Quito, Ecuador school earthquake safety project, which prioritized high risk school buildings and presented solutions to strengthen them.
School Earthquake and Tsunami Safety in Asia-Pacific Economies:
Reducing Risk and Improving Preparedness
A policy framework and ways to keep students out of harm’s way who live in earthquake, tsunami, and volcano zones in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries.