Syria Earthquake 2023: Rapid Damage Assessments

To support engineers, shelter and construction professions in Türkiye and Syria to assess structural damages to buildings in the aftermath o

Session Length: 120 min

Aim

To support engineers, shelter and construction professions in Türkiye and Syria to assess structural damages to buildings in the aftermath of the 2023 earthquake.

Objectives

By the end of the session participants will be able to:

1. List the essential pre-requisites to doing a building damage assessment
2. Explain briefly the effects of an earthquake on buildings through the 3 layers approach
3. Describe the main objectives of a broad damage assessment
4. Identify the key elements to look at when doing a visual assessment
5. Use 2 assessment tools (humanitarian classification and AFAD form)
6. Reach out to other involved actors of the response

Key Learning Points

1. A rapid damage assessment is useful to establish a classification of buildings according to damages
2. This classification will allow different actors to adapt the response: most dangerous buildings will be secured and destroyed, ones that can be repaired will be, and strategical ones will be prioritized so they can be used by population.
3. Buildings will be impacted differently depending on the mechanic of the earthquake, the location of the site, the nature of the soil, and the nature of the construction itself and its surroundings.
4. Simple assessments tools allow professional with construction knowledge in doing rapid damage assessments.
5. Such assessments must be done taking into consideration: access to location, safety for the assessor, equipment available, coordination with other actors.
6. Linked modules or context/rationale in which session is to be run

Session Overview

• Introduction and Overall objectives
• Overview of session
• Pre-requisites to doing a damage assessment
• Brief background on Earthquakes
• Impact of earthquakes : 3 layers approach
• Damage assessment tools
• Group exercise and damage assessment practice
• Limitations and further support
• Conclusions

Course Language

English

SELECTION PROCESS

Places on the module are extremely limited so a short selection process will be running. Participants will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Participants must have access to a stable internet connection and are able to actively participate in all facilitated sessions

• Participants must be structural engineers working in the assessment and repair of structures in Syria and Iraq

• Participants must have solid existing knowledge of structural engineering fundamentals (e.g., load paths and transfer mechanisms), design of RC multistory buildings, frames and masonry structures, and structural dynamics

• Participants must have practical skills and experience in detailing, construction, seismic design and analysis background for RC structures, as well as quality control of building construction materials

We will also be ensuring a balance of participants from Iraq, and from Syria, and ensuring a balance of genders.

HPASS BADGING

For this module, RedR UK is also offering HPass Badging. An HPass badge is a digital indicator of achievement, and a way for participants to demonstrate their skills and experience. More information on HPass Badging can be found  here: https://hpass.org/hpass-for-individuals/.  

Participants will be able to redeem a badge through a link sent after the module.

RedR UK is committed to making sure everyone’s needs are met, including people of different genders, ages and disabilities. If you have any specific access requirements or learning needs RedR are committed to try and make reasonable adjustments to support your needs, please email engineering.skills@redr.org.uk at any stage of the booking process to talk directly to RedR about your needs.

RedR UK’s Structural Engineering Programme is implemented in partnership with Ramboll UK, and is kindly funded by the Ramboll Foundation.