Though the idea of having a research centre for seismic studies was already prevailing for quite some time, however it was the Bhuj earthquake of January 26th, 2001 in India which decided the timing of its materialisation. The incident was alarming for the region which shook the Eastern part of Lower Sindh and Karachi. Thus without causing further delays Earthquake Engineering Study Centre (EESC), Department of Civil Engineering was established on April 28, 2001. On the very occasion Cowasjee Foundation, a philanthropist organisation offered generous support and showed interest in patronising the study centre. Hence, it is known after its patron as Cowasjee Earthquake Study Centre (CESNED). The study centre has opened new venues of knowledge and research.

The aims and objectives of the Centre are as follows:

 It shall be a non-profit centre, which shall house national and global data pertaining to earthquakes and shall act as a clearing-house for disseminating accumulated knowledge in a prescribed manner.

It shall have expertise in all areas of pre and post disaster mitigation.

 It should have the capacity and capability to identify research needs and conduct such research in collaboration with other organizations if needed;

 It should respond to emergency needs and should be able to provide guiding principles for post-disaster mitigation, to the agencies and authorities.

Research Activities

Ever since its inception CESNED had been working on the methodologies for mitigation of earthquake. It is striving to be a world-class research centre investigating the physics of earthquakes through the use of computer simulations.

Research at undergraduate and postgraduate level are underway for which faculty and students and being engaged to work on different research projects. One such project is the Development of Response Spectra for Southern Coastal Region of Sindh, under the supervision of Prof. Sarosh H. Lodi. The research is currently being pursued towards the development of response spectra, through stochastic simulation and competent Attenuation Modelling (CAM) Technique. It would be enhanced further towards the development of a generalized Geographic Information System (GIS) model for Southern Coastal region of Sindh. The study will pave way towards a seismic hazard evaluation and development design response spectra for the region.

The Centre has presented six papers, so far, at various seminars. The details of these are as under:

Papers were presented by Prof. Dr. Abdul Samad Khan, Prof. Dr. Sahibzada Farooq Ahmad Rafeeqi, Prof. Sarosh H Lodi and Mr Zafar Razzak in the Seminar Eartquake 2001 on April 28, 2001.

· The Centre participated in a five-day international seminar on January 7, 2002 on 'Natural Hazard Monitoring', organized by Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) by sending a team of two members and presenting a paper titled 'Earthquake-2001-Consequences and Response.

Again, on August 19, 2002 the Centre participated in a one day seminar organized by SUPARCO on 'Atmospheric and Ionospheric Physics' through the presentation of a paper titled 'Earthquake Mitigation- An objective approach' by one of its members.

Moreover, abstract of a paper titled 'Essentials of a Building Code' has been accepted by National Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal. The Society is holding a symposium on Seismology, Earthquake Hazard Assessment and Risk Management, which was scheduled on 24 to 26 November this year and remained unattended due to the unavailability of funds.

Seminars

In order to create awareness among students, faculty and other individuals and also to improve understanding of the earthquake mechanism, seminars and discussions are held. The Centre started its activities by holding a Seminar titled "Earthquake 2001" on April 28, 2001. The participants included engineers, geoscientists, architects, planners, public officials, and researchers, practicing professionals, and building code regulators.

CESNED Newsletter

The need of creating awareness of reducing earthquake risk and disseminating information on earthquake engineering is being fulfilled by publishing a biannual newsletter. The CESNED Newsletter caters to the needs of students and professionals by providing up-to-date knowledge of earthquake mitigation aspects, statistics and reports of the current earthquakes in any part of the world.

Future Activities

The Centre is striving to act as data collection centre, to gather information, reports, and research and investigative work on world famous earthquakes in the past. This data will be helpful in advocating comprehensive and realistic measures for reducing the harmful effects of earthquakes. The analysis of this data is in an initial stage and will be presented in a seminar, which is planned in the upcoming year. An international conference following the Seminar is also under consideration. CESNED is also working on the lines of developing collaboration with Earthquake Disaster Preparedness Centre at AIT in conducting training, seminars and workshops on related subjects.

Resource Person

Cowasjee Earthquake Centre,
Department of Civil Engineering
Phone: 9261261-68 Ext. 2205 Fax: 9261255
Email: cesned@neduet.edu.pk

Back to Departmental Nodes